Weight Loss Surgery Shown to Reduce Cancer Risk and Cancer Deaths in Adult Patients
Since 1954 when the very first weight loss surgery was performed, weight loss surgery has been an excellent option for those who are unable to lose weight using conventional methods. While many people view weight loss surgery as a cosmetic procedure, the reality is that the health benefits of weight loss surgery are what lead most doctors to recommend this procedure. Now, according to a new study published in JAMA, there is reason to believe that weight loss surgery may be able to reduce a patient’s risk of cancer as well.
How Does Weight Loss Surgery Work?
Weight loss surgery is a term that encompasses several different procedures, but all of these procedures work essentially the same way. Contrary to a popular misconception, weight loss surgery does not surgically remove fat from the body. Instead, weight loss surgery is designed to help patients easily lose weight on their own by surgically reducing the size of their stomach.
The most common type of weight loss surgery performed in the United States and around the world is a procedure known as sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve gastrectomy removes 75-90% of the stomach, leaving in place a sleeve that is just 15% of the stomach’s original volume.
So how does reducing the size of the stomach help a person lose weight? The reason why this procedure is so effective is that sensations of being hungry or full are triggered based on how full or empty the stomach is, regardless of its size. By dramatically reducing the size of your stomach, weight loss surgery helps you feel full after much smaller meals and prevents hunger cravings throughout the day. In fact, it is all but impossible to overeat after weight loss surgery since there is simply nowhere to put the excess food.
By enabling patients to easily lose weight, weight loss surgery offers a number of health and lifestyle benefits, reducing a person’s risk for a wide range of obesity-related conditions.
The Link Between Weight Loss Surgery and Reduced Cancer Risk
We have known for a long time now that being seriously overweight increases a person’s risk for a number of different types of cancer. However, the link between intentional weight loss and reduced cancer risk has not been studied nearly as much.
According to a new study published in JAMA, though, weight loss surgery does indeed reduce cancer risk. The study examined 30,318 patients with a median age of 46 and a median BMI of 45. 5,053 of these patients underwent weight loss surgery while the remainder were used as a control group. In the study’s conclusion, researchers stated, “Among adults with obesity, [weight loss surgery] compared with no surgery was associated with a significantly lower incidence of obesity-associated cancer and cancer-related mortality.”
This study is excellent news for anyone who is considering weight loss surgery as a means of reducing their health risks. Most promising of all is the fact that the implications of this study extend beyond weight loss surgery alone. Since the only effect of weight loss surgery is the fact that it forces patients to eat less, the link between weight loss surgery and reduced cancer risk also implies that weight loss due to conventional methods can reduce a patient’s risk of developing cancer as well.
Is Weight Loss Surgery the Right Choice for You?
Not everyone who would like to get rid of a little excess weight is a candidate for weight loss surgery. Only those with a BMI of 40 or higher or those with a BMI of 35-39 in addition to serious obesity-related health conditions tend to qualify for weight loss surgery. If you do fall into one of these two categories, though, be sure to have a discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of weight loss surgery the next time you meet with your physician.
