Bariatric Surgery and Long-Term Mortality

The prevalence of obesity (body-mass index >30 kg/m²) is increasing dramatically in the U.S. and in other developed nations. Obesity increases risk for medical problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, observational studies have not demonstrated conclusively that patients who lose weight live longer than those who do not, possibly because separating involuntary from voluntary weight loss is difficult. A consequence of the increasing prevalence of extreme obesity is an increase in the number of bariatric surgery procedures performed. Two groups now address the effect of bariatric surgery on long-term mortality.

Investigators in Sweden studied 4047 obese patients prospectively. Patients who elected to undergo bariatric …