10 Important Facts About WLS

 

 

 

There are a number of misconceptions surrounding weight loss surgery, here we detail 10 key facts that you should be aware of if considering surgery.

 

1. Bariatric patients are on average morbidly obese

In 2014 the average BMI for UK patients at the time of their bariatric surgery was 48.8. A BMI of over 40 is classified as obesity III or morbid obesity and means that on average patients were almost twice their ideal weight¹.

2. More men are now having bariatric treatment 

Women account for the majority of bariatric surgery procedures (2014 figures show 4,820 procedures for women and to 1,560 for men¹). However an important trend has been the increasing proportion of men seeking surgery. In 2006, 16% of those having primary procedures were men. In 2013 the proportion had risen to almost 26%. 

3. Over half of adults undergoing bariatric surgery are aged 45 to 64

Latest figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, in 2013 to 14, showed that 53.1% of adults having weight loss procedures were aged 45 to 64.

4.Gastric bypass is the most performed weight loss surgery 

The gastric bypass is the most widely performed bariatric operation in the US. This is mirrored in the UK with gastric bypass accounting for 53.9% (9133 operations) of all weight loss surgeries (WLS) from 2011 to 2013¹. There were 3633 gastric band procedures, 3631 sleeve gastrectomy surgeries and 294 gastric balloon insertions.

5. Bariatric surgery has a survival rate of 99.9%

Data from over 18,000 UK patients showed the survival rate of bariatric surgery to be over 99.9%¹, clearly demonstrating that it is effective and safe. 

6. Bariatric surgery can resolve diabetes associated with obesity

Great news is the success of bariatric surgery in treating diabetic patients. The BMI criteria for weight loss surgeries is lower (35 plus) if the patient also has a medical condition such as diabetes, as it has been shown that the condition is likely to improve after weight loss. 

Data from the NBSR 2014 report shows that two years after obesity surgery, 65.1% of patients with type 2 diabetes associated with obesity had no indication of diabetes¹.

7. Weight loss after WLS is long lasting

2006 to 2011 data shows that on average three years after WLS, bariatric patients lost 59.6% of their excess weight: 65.4% for gastric bypass, 59.0% for sleeve gastrectomy and 52.9% for gastric banding¹.

8. WLS improves your quality of life

Functional status such as moving around and getting up and downstairs is very important to a patient’s quality of life. Again in the NBSR 2014 report over 70% of patients had a decreased functional status before their bariatric surgery and one year following surgery this had dropped to under 26%¹.

9. Sleep apnoea can be effectively treated with WLS

Sleep apnoea can also be effectively resolved by weight loss treatment. There is a strong relationship between obesity and the development of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It follows that bariatric surgery is the most effective option for treating obesity and sleep apnoea. A 2013 publication found that over 75% of patients saw at least an improvement in their sleep apnoea².

10. It’s better to get pregnant after WLS than if you are obese

Pregnancy outcomes after all types of WLS are safer and better than those of obese pregnancies. However women are advised not to become pregnant within 12 months of having had weight-loss surgery³.  Twelve months after WLS your weight will be stable and you’ll be able to provide your baby with enough nutrition for a healthy pregnancy.

References

¹ http://www.bomss.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Extract_from_the_NBSR_2014_Report.pdf

² http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23299507

³ http://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-after-weight-loss-surgery-advice-for-professionals

Feature courtesy of www.ramsayhealth.co.uk