(January 18, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

Most obese individuals can expect to live longer following bariatric surgery, but everyone considering such a procedure must weigh multiple potential risks and benefits, according to research published in the Archives of Surgery.

Here is some information on bariatric surgery:

•    It is surgery performed for the express purpose of helping patients lose weight

•    It includes several procedures that lessen the size of the stomach and/or re-route the passage of food to limit its absorption

•    Because of its risks, it is generally indicated only for individuals who are excessively overweight and who have been unable to keep weight off by any other means

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center constructed a model to help determine who is most likely to live longer as a result of bariatric surgery. They used data from almost 400,000 individuals nationwide to calculate the excess risk of death from obesity, another study of over 20,000 patients to calculate the risks associated with bariatric surgery, and a third long-term study to estimate the effects of bariatric surgery on weight.

Based on their model, 42-year-old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 45 would gain nearly 3 years of life expectancy through bariatric surgery. Not everyone would benefit as much from the procedure, however. The benefits were less for men than for women and less for older than younger patients. For older patients with medical conditions that made surgery risky, the procedure could actually lower life expectancy.

Today's research demonstrates how important it is to balance the potential benefits and risks before making a decision to undergo bariatric surgery.