gastric bypass surgery is not only for young people, says a study in February surgery files.
Weight loss procedure rose in popularity. The gastric bypass was held 10 times more in 2001 as in 1987.
In the procedure, surgeons ignore the stomach by closing a section of the stomach, leaving a small bag that accommodates some ounces of food. Which drastically reduces the amount of foods that people can eat. The bag is attached to part of the small intestine so that foods had the rest of the stomach to reduce the absorption of calories and nutrients.
Beads For Weight Loss - Weight Loss Surgery Safe for Seniors
Interest in gastric bypass grew along with the waist of America. Almost 20% of the population U.S. was obese in 2001, compared to 12% 10 years earlier, said James Swain, MD and Mayo Clinic colleagues in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Celebrity dramatic weight loss stories and other obese people who have suffered surgery also fed interest. The less invasive procedures have also become available that avoid the large incision normally done during the bypass procedure and reduced the time of recovery in the hospital.
But some headlines observed the hazards that may occur. In last October, two studies have shown that short-term dangers may be greater than previous thinking, although the long-term benefits of spilling extra pounds could do the surgery worthwhile.
Risks apply to all. Weight loss surgery is not done casually; It is a last resort for overweight or obese individuals who have tried other methods and were not successful. But the age alone does not rule out the procedure, says James Swain, MD and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Since older patients are healthy enough to have surgery, "advanced age patients can suffer safely [gastric bypass]", write the researchers.
This goes against some policies of providers, they say. As so many people are obese and the Americans are living more than ever, the Swain team took a new look at gastric and age bypass surgery.
The younger patients were about 45 years on average. Older patients had a mean age of 65 years.
Before surgery, both groups weighed a little more than 300 pounds (305 pounds for the oldest group and 301 pounds for the youngest group). The newest group body mass index (BMI) was higher (48, compared to 42 for the oldest group).
Judging by the scale, the younger patients did a little better. They lost more weight and had a greater drop in BMI.
The younger patients lost almost 97 pounds, lowering their BMI for 15 points. Older patients spilled about 86 pounds and fell almost 13 BMI points.
The younger patients also discharged an average of 2.3 medical problems related to obesity, as sleep apnea. While older patients also improved their health, they have fallen only under two health problems after weight loss surgery.But older patients got better in another area. After surgery, they were able to reduce the number of medications they normally took. In the last follow-up, they took an average of 2.7 medications, almost five. The younger patients also cut the prescription per person after surgery. This is a significant decrease, but it is less than its elders achieved.
Both groups had similar complications rates and remained in the hospital for approximately the same number of days (about three days for older patients and 2.5 days for the younger ones).
"Patients over 60 can be considered good candidates for obesity surgery," let's say researchers. They plan the longest follow-up to track the saving of survival and cost of health.
