Bariatric Surgery Is Associated with Less Health-Related Impairment While Working

Obesity is associated with absenteeism and work-related disability. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, but whether it helps resolve obesity-related workplace issues is unclear. In this multisite, longitudinal U.S. study, researchers assessed work status and productivity in 1773 severely obese patients (mean age, 45; mean body-mass index, 46 kg/m²; 80% women) who underwent bariatric surgery and were seen at least once during 3 years of follow-up. Most patients (71%) underwent Roux-en-Y bypass; 24% had adjustable gastric band procedures. Mean weight loss at 3 years was 28%.

Unemployment in the cohort rose slightly during the study period, from 3.7% to 5.6%, consistent with national trends at the time. Prevalence of absent…