New Research on Weight Loss Surgery

Weight-loss surgery can help obese people shed hundreds of pounds, but now doctors say it can help them in other ways too.

New research shows the procedure can help lower a person's risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Doctors agree the decision to have major surgery should not be taken lightly, but when it comes to weight loss surgery, new research shows the benefits may far out way the risks.

"Less than one percent of the people that need weight reduction surgery are having them each year," Bariatric surgeon Dr. James Davidson said.

Researchers say the results of lengthy studies indicate that gastric bypass surgery can help extend the lives of people who are severely obese. Doctors say the procedure has been proven to dramatically reduce the number of deaths associated with heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

"For some people, it's life changing, both from a longevity standpoint and also how they feel," Davidson said. "If you have a bad knee, or a back, and you can't get out of bed, it's amazing. Somebody loses 15 or 20 pounds and they come back here just a week later. They're out of pain."

Some say the new research might convince more doctors to perform weight loss surgeries and more insurance companies to cover the cost of the procedure.

Doctors say it's still a good idea to try to lose weight without having surgery, especially since the operation can carry serious risks.

Source: WOAI.COM