Weight Loss Surgery May Benefit Older Adults

Age does not increase the risk associated with weight loss surgery, suggest a new study conducted at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.

For the study data on 48,378 adults was taken from national registry that is especially working for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Body mass index of participants was 35 and had an open or laparoscopic gastric bypass, an open duodenal switch, vertical banded gastroplasty or a laparoscopic gastric banding. Eight participants were aged more then 65.

Researchers found that adults (over 65 age) were not at greater risk of developing adverse health conditions. There response to weight loss surgery was similar to the participants in their 30s and 40s. However, the seniors who were more than 72 and undergone procedures involve opening the abdomen were more likely hospitalized for longer duration.

Results of the study revealed that risk of dying post bariatric surgery is 0.12% in adults aged 35 to 49 and 0.21% for people ages between 50 to 64 and 0.4 in those who were aged more than 65.

Study also revealed that outcomes of weight loss surgery such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney function was not different in middle aged and older participants. When compared to middle aged group, older participants did not appear to have any increased risk of post surgery complications.

According to researcher of the study Robert B. Dorman, this study gives opportunity to the doctors and surgeons to explain to their patients to undergo surgery, if they are otherwise healthy. Older patients do get benefited from weight loss surgery in terms of quality of life. For instance, if a person is overweight at 72 then weight loss surgery will definitely help him to have better quality of life.

When carefully selected the risk of surgery in older adults was not more than younger patients.

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