Georgia, February 09: Severely obese people who undergo gastric bypass surgery to lose weight may receive the added benefit of healing their overly stressed hearts. A new study suggests that the surgery can facilitate normal function and appearance of the heart and lower the risk of heart disease. The details of the research were recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Obesity is linked to an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease such as atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) and heart failure. Many obese people experience structural changes to their heart, including excess heart muscle mass in the left ventricle and enlargement of the right ventricular cavity that are also associated with heart failure.
According to study author Dr. Sheldon Litwin, chief of cardiology at the Medical College of Georgia, “We know obese people get cardiovascular disease more often than non-obese people.” He then added, “One of the questions out there is: Is it reversible if they lose weight? The answer is yes.”
To reach their conclusions, the researchers followed a group of more than 400 severely obese gastric bypass surgery patients having an average age of 42. The gastric bypass procedure involves the creation of a small stomach pouch for the restriction of food intake, combined with the creation of bypasses of the sections of the small intestine that cause a decreased ability for the body to absorb calories and nutrients from food. The patients were compared to a reference group of over 300 severely obese people who did not undergo weight-loss surgery.
After two years, the body mass index (BMI) of the patients had dropped from an average of almost 48 to about 32, with an average weight loss of about 100 pounds. (Having a BMI of 30 is deemed obese, while a BMI of 25 is considered to be of normal weight). In addition, the surgery patients were also found to have decreased blood pressure, a lower heart rate, improved cholesterol levels and a reduced insulin resistance that cuts their risk of developing diabetes.
Ultrasounds of the heart, known as echocardiograms, were performed on the gastric bypass patients and revealed a more normal heart size along with significant restructuring of the heart in both the left and right ventricular cavities. Litwin explained that the reductions in heart mass and volume mean that the heart is under less stress for pumping blood and that is has regained a more normal shape and function.
Although the number of gastric bypass surgeries has been steadily increasing in the U.S., only about a quarter of a percent of people opt for these procedures. Gastric bypass can be very expensive and is still considered a controversial surgery. In fact, many insurance companies will not accept claim for the procedure. In addition, the risks associated with Gastric include blood clots, respiratory arrest, infection, small bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, and even death.
Litwin posed the question, “Would it be better if people could lose weight by eating better and exercising more?” He followed with an answer of “Probably, yes.” However, he then pointed out that “in general those lifestyle changes are ineffective, particularly in people who are severely obese.”
The best strategy is to ward off becoming severely obese by eating a heart-healthy diet and getting active. A regular exercise routine and sensible eating can go a long way in the prevention of obesity.
–Agencies–