It's obvious to many people who have lived with morbid obesity for years that the disease has a severe negative impact on quality of life. Because of morbid obesity, you may choose not to participate in certain activities. You may feel that you have limited career choices.
What you may not know is that morbid obesity has been found to affect the quality of your health and the length of your life.4
Morbid obesity has been linked to several serious and life-threatening diseases. These medical, or co-morbid, conditions include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, acid reflux/GERD and cancer. Most of these conditions do not develop for years. So many people living with morbid obesity may have one or more of these health issues without even realizing it.
Bariatric surgery may offer you a whole new outlook on health.
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Type 2 Diabetes Resolved | 83.8%4 | 47.8%4 |
Type 2 diabetes can be a lifelong condition. It is an increasingly widespread health issue in the U.S. and has serious long-term consequences. You may want to compare bariatric surgery's high resolution rates for type 2 diabetes to the long-term effects of the condition.
People with type 2 diabetes are at risk for developing:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
High Blood Pressure Resolved | 75.4%4 | 38.4%4 |
Heart disease and high blood pressure are related health conditions. High blood pressure indicates that your heart is straining to pump blood throughout your circulatory system and can lead to health disorders such as heart disease.
Heart disease is an umbrella term for several diseases that affect the heart and the circulatory system. Heart disease can be quite serious and fatal. You may want to compare bariatric surgery's high resolution rates for heart disease to the long-term effects of these conditions.
People living with morbid obesity are at risk for developing heart disease and high blood pressure, including conditions such as:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
High Cholesterol Improved | 95%4 | 78.3%4 |
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in all parts of the body. High cholesterol can be harmful and is associated with serious health conditions. You may want to compare bariatric surgery's high improvement rates for this condition to the long-term effects of high cholesterol.
People with high cholesterol are at risk for developing:
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder with symptoms of loud snoring and long pauses in breathing. Often the person with obstructive sleep apnea is unaware of their condition until they're told by a family member or friend. Obstructive sleep apnea is linked to several serious conditions and experiences. You may want to compare bariatric surgery's high resolution rates for this condition to the long-term effects of obstructive sleep apnea.
People with obstructive sleep apnea are at risk for:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Acid Reflux/GERD Resolved | 98%5 | 32.3%13 |
Acid reflux, also known as GERD, occurs when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus is not working. Stomach acid splashes up into the esophagus, which can damage it and lead to painful conditions and cancer. You may want to compare bariatric surgery's high resolution rates for acid reflux to the long-term effects of this condition.
People with acid reflux are at risk for developing:
Several studies have been conducted to examine the link between morbid obesity and cancer.
In 2001, experts at the National Cancer Institute concluded that several cancers are associated with obesity14:
In 2003, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that obesity could account for15:
14% of all deaths from cancer in men
20% of all deaths from cancer in women
Several clinical studies of bariatric surgery show that surgery improved life expectancy in patients by at least 29 to 89 percent.6,16,17,18
The charts below refer to "relative risk", which compares how likely an event is to occur to a person versus another person. The charts show how much more likely a person with morbid obesity is to develop cancer or die from cancer versus a person with a healthy weight.
The National Cancer Institute found that people living with morbid obesity are more likely to develop certain cancers than healthy-weight people14:
Type of Cancer | Women | Men |
Esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) | 200% higher relative risk of occurrence14 | 200% higher relative risk of occurrence14 |
Kidney cancer | 84% higher relative risk of occurrence14 | 84% higher relative risk of occurrence14 |
Colon cancer | No data available | Increased risk of occurrence14 |
Breast cancer | 50% higher relative risk of occurrence14 | No data available |
Uterine cancer | 200% to 400% higher relative risk of occurrence14 | N/A |
Study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people living with morbid obesity had significantly higher death rates from cancer than healthy-weight people15:
Type of Cancer | Women | Men |
All types | 62% higher relative risk of death15 | 52% higher relative risk of death15 |
Esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) | No data available | 63% higher relative risk of death15 |
Kidney cancer | 475% higher relative risk of death15 | 70% higher relative risk of death15 |
Stomach cancer | 8% higher relative risk of death15 | 94% higher relative risk of death15 |
Colorectal cancer | 46% higher relative risk of death15 | 84% higher relative risk of death15 |
Liver cancer | 68% higher relative risk of death15 | 452% higher relative risk of death15 |
Pancreatic cancer | 276% higher relative risk of death15 | 49% higher relative risk of death15 |
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma | 95% higher relative risk of death15 | 49% higher relative risk of death15 |
Multiple myeloma | 44% higher relative risk of death15 | 71% higher relative risk of death15 |
Leukemia | Lower relative risk of death15 | 70% higher relative risk of death15 |
Breast cancer | 212% higher relative risk of death15 | No data available |
Cervical cancer | 320% higher relative risk of death15 | N/A |
Ovarian cancer | 51% higher relative risk of death15 | N/A |
Uterine cancer | 625% higher relative risk of death15 | N/A |
Prostate cancer | N/A | 34% higher relative risk of death15 |
Cancer and obesity are linked, but there is hope:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Depression Improved | 47%2 | No data available |
Clinical depression is a mood disorder during which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday living for extended periods of time. This is very different from having a bad day, feeling unhappy, or just "down in the dumps." You may want to consider bariatric surgery's improvement rates for this condition.
People with depression may experience:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain Resolved | 41%2 | No data available |
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. It results in the breakdown of the cartilage in the joints. Without cartilage, the bones rub against each other, and the joints become stiff and painful. You may want to consider bariatric surgery's resolution rates for osteoarthritis and the long-term effects of the condition.
People with osteoarthritis are at risk for developing:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Stress Urinary Incontinence Resolved | 44%2 | No data available |
Stress urinary incontinence can be an embarrassing health issue that can disrupt social activities and careers. It is an involuntary loss of urine that may occur during physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, and exercise. You may want to consider bariatric surgery's resolution rates for this condition.
You may want to consider bariatric surgery's resolution rates for these conditions and the long-term effects of reproductive health.
In a study of 28 patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome who had gastric bypass surgery, the following results were reported:
Gastric Bypass % of Patients |
Gastric Banding % of Patients |
|
Menstrual Dysfunction Due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Resolved | 100%19,20 | No data available |
Excess Hair Due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Resolved | 79%19,20 | No data available |
Restores ovulation and fertility |
Yes19 5 of 5 patients (100%) |
No data available |
Women living with morbid obesity may experience certain reproductive health issues, such as:
You may want to compare bariatric surgery's resolution rates for these conditions to the long-term effects of these health issues.
Also known as syndrome X, metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal obesity. People with metabolic syndrome are at risk for developing:
80% of gastric bypass patients experienced complete resolution of metabolic syndrome after surgery.21
Migraines are throbbing headaches that can last up to 48 hours and are often accompanied by vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, and sensitivity to light and sound. While migraines are not generally considered a significant threat to overall health, they are associated with a lower quality of life. People with migraines are at risk for developing:
Venous stasis disease occurs when the veins have problems sending blood from the legs back to the heart. Fluid seeps out of the overfilled veins into surrounding leg tissues and cause tissue breakdown and ulcers. And because skin ulcers are the result of poor blood circulation, these wounds are often slow to heal. People with venous stasis disease may experience:
95% of gastric bypass patients experienced complete resolution of venous stasis disease after surgery.22
Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition that appears to be a tumor — but it is not. The major symptom is increased pressure within the skull; other symptoms include headache, buzzing sound in the ears, dizziness, and nausea.
Maintaining the proper body weight is more than just a function of bariatric surgery. It is a lifelong commitment that goes beyond adjusting your lifestyle and sticking to a healthy diet.
While surgery has become a preferred option for morbidly obese individuals, there are still some uncertainties about the long-term impact of the procedures on nutrition and body systems. As such, patients will need ongoing nutritional counseling and periodic checks for anemia (low red blood cell count), B-12, folate, protein, calcium and iron levels.
Initially, these tests will be conducted every three to six months or as needed. After that, they will be required at a minimum of once a year.
2 Schauer P, Ikramuddin S, Gourash W, et al. Outcomes After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity. Ann Surg 2000 Oct;232(4):515-29.
4 Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA 2004;292(14):1724-37.
5 Wittgrove A, Clark G. Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Roux-En-Y 500 Patients: Technique and Results, with 3-60 Month Follow-up. Obes Surg 2000 Jun;10(3):233-9.
6 Christou NV, Sampalis JS, Liberman M, et al. Surgery Decreases Long-term Mortality, Morbidity, and Health Care Use in Morbidly Obese Patients. Ann Surg 2004;240(3):416-24.
8 Eisen G. Capsule Endoscopy: New Applications. J Fam Pract 2005 Dec;54(12 Suppl):9-14.
12 Pories W, Swanson M, Macdonald K, et al. Who Would Have Thought It? An Operation Proves to Be the Most Effective Therapy for Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus. Ann Surg 1995;222(3):339-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1234815/
13 Tolonen P, Victorzon M, Niemi R, et al. Does Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity Reduce or Increase Gastroesophageal Reflux? Obes Surg 2006;16(11):1469-74.
14 National Cancer Institute. Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers. [Online] 31 June 2007. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/obesity.
15 Calle E, Rodriguez C, Walker-Thurmond K, et al. Overweight, Obesity, and Mortality from Cancer in a Prospectively Studied Cohort of U.S. Adults. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1625-38.
16 Sowemimo O, Yood S, Courtney J, et al. Natural History of Morbid Obesity with Surgical Intervention. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2007;3:73-7.
17 Sjostrom L, Narbro K, Sjostrom D, et al. Effects of Bariatric Surgery in Swedish Obese Subjects. N Engl J Med 2007;357(8):741-52.
18 Adams T, Gress R, Smith S, et al. Long-Term Mortality after Gastric Bypass Surgery. N Engl J Med 2007;357(8):753-61.
19 Eid GM, Cottam DR, Velcu LM, et al. Effective Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass. SOARD 2005 Mar;1(2):77-80.
20 Dr. Joseph F. Smith Medical Library. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. [Online] 1 August 2005.
21 Mattar S, Velcu L, Rabinovitz M. Surgically Induced Weight Loss Significantly Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Metabolic Syndrome. Ann Surg 2006;242(4):610-20.
22 Sugerman H, Sugerman E, Wolfe L. Risks and Benefits of Gastric Bypass in Morbidly Obese Patients with Severe Venous Stasis Disease. Ann Surg 2001;234(1):41-6.
23 Sugerman H, Felton W, Aristides S. Gastric Surgery for Pseudotumor Cerebri Associated with Severe Obesity. Ann Surg 1999;229(5):634-42.
30 Waller K, Shaw G, Rasmussen S, et al. Prepregnancy Obesity as a Risk Factor for Structural Birth Defects. J Arch Pediat Adolesc Med 2007;161:745-50.