Weight loss is the obvious benefit of bariatric surgery. But there are many other advantages you may not have thought about. We’ll introduce you to some of them here.

First, let’s get one thing straight: bariatric surgery is not a cure for the disease of obesity.1 Nor does it result in you instantly becoming thinner. It does, however, enable significant, lasting weight loss.2 And that can improve your life in a variety of ways, since severe overweight affects virtually every system in the body negatively.3

How much weight can you expect to lose? 

On average, bariatric surgery patients lose 40%-75% of their excess body weight.1 (Results can depend on the specific surgical procedure, as well as lifestyle changes and diet habits.1,4) This equals a loss of roughly 30%-40% of your starting weight before surgery.1 

But perhaps even more important than weight loss is the impact bariatric surgery has on conditions related to excess weight. For example, people who have bariatric surgery can experience: 

  • Long-term remission of type 2 diabetes5 - Diabetes is a main cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and strokes. And in 4 out of 5 patients, type 2 diabetes goes into remission after bariatric surgery.3
  • Better blood pressure - About half of bariatric surgery patients with high blood pressure achieve normal blood pressure after surgery and decrease how much blood pressure medicine they need.1
  • Better cardiovascular health  - The heart and blood vessels function in a healthier way after the excess weight loss you can achieve with bariatric surgery.1 Risk of heart attack and stroke decrease by 1.5x after bariatric surgery.6
  • Healthier sleep  - Episodes of obstructive sleep apnoea (where breathing stops during sleep) are significantly minimised in 70% of people who have had bariatric surgery. And in 40% of patients, the episodes stop completely.1
  • Better quality of life -  Many studies using different types of assessments show that bariatric surgery patients feel their quality of life has improved. Patients report that they are more physically active, feel healthier, are more interested in sex, and less depressed.1,4
  • Less joint pain4 -  People who carry excess weight often experience joint pain. The knees, in particular, can suffer.3 
  • Improved fertility -  Excess weight may make it harder to get pregnant. It can trigger menstrual dysfunction and a person’s ovulation cycles. There is also a higher risk associated of miscarriage rates and pregnancy complications.7
  • Relief from other medical conditions such as cancer, gallbladder disease, pregnancy complications, and more.4 Ask your doctor for details on how meaningful, lasting excess weight loss could affect you. 

It’s the start of a journey

While bariatric surgery has many benefits, remember that it is not the end of a weight loss journey. If you decide to have surgery, you will have many steps ahead to ensure you achieve your desired results.

What’s next for you?

First, of course, you need to think it over yourself. And if you’re potentially interested, you'll need careful evaluation by healthcare professionals to determine whether surgery is right for you.

In the meantime, you might want to read this article:

Curious about whether you might qualify for bariatric surgery? 

Find out here
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