1. Darliene Howell on Obese white Americans are twice as likely as blacks to have bariatric surgery
    Darliene Howell Darliene Howell United States says:
    August 6, 2013 at 12:12 AM

    There are many reasons why weight loss surgery is not the “answer” that people make it out to be, some of which are:

    • Bariatric surgery may appear to cure diabetes based on measurements such as fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c, but postprandial glucose may tell a different story, researchers here said [AACE: Bariatric Surgery May Just Mask Diabetes]

    • Iron absorption is markedly reduced after RYGBP with no further modifications, at least until 18 mo after surgery. [Iron absorption and iron status are reduced after Roux-enY gastic bypass]

    • A 2006 study concluded that WLS complications are common. By examining insurance claims for 2,522 surgeries, researchers with the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that 40% of patients had complications in 6 mths after surgery, about double the rate in previous studies. [Weight loss surgery's complications devastate some patients]

    • In contrast to current bariatric studies, which report a 20% in-hospital complication rate, we find a significantly higher complication rate over the 6 months after surgery, resulting in costly readmissions and emergency room visits. [Healthcare utilization and outcomes after bariatric surgery]

    • A study published this year in Archives of Surgery reassessed about 80 people who had gastric bands inserted between 1994 and 1997. They reported that “because nearly 1 out of 3 patients experienced band erosion, and nearly 50% of the patients required removal of their bands (contributing to a re-operation rate of 60%), [banding] appears to result in relatively poor long-term outcomes.” [J. Himpens, et al, Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, Archives of Surgery, 2011]

    There is an evidence-based compassionate alternative to bariatric surgery: Health At Every Size®. Please consider this alternative prior to making a decision that will change your entire life, possibly NOT for the better.

    For more information on Health At Every Size, you can find a general explanation on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_at_Every_Size) or find in-depth research-based information in the book Health At Every Size - The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Dr. Linda Bacon (http://www.lindabacon.org/HAESbook/).

    Reply
    • WLS evolution
      Harry Minot Harry Minot United States says:
      August 12, 2013 at 6:17 AM

      All of Darliene's points are well-made. The HAES movement has made and continues to make formidable contributions to the genuine understanding of fatness. I recently attended a presentation on WLS, which I had long regarded as a sort of metabolic mutilation. I decided to open my mind and listen. And as a formerly fat person who has experienced the regain-with-a-"dividend" syndrome I can well imagine a time when I might again be "super obese" and have the co-morbidities which tend to steer one toward the surgical approach. I was impressed by the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, which has a permanency advantage over banding and results in fewer absorption problems than the RnY surgery. Affordability is a real issue, however. Poor people for whom the surgery is a real option ought not to be denied it. But, as Darliene wisely explains, avoidance of the surgery by other methods is preferable. BTW, here's my own story: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-968195

      Reply
The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
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