A study released in the British Medical Journal, still available here, indicates that weight loss surgery is not only more effective than long term diet and exercise in aiding weight loss, but it increases the remission rates for people with type 2 diabetes too.

We all know that in order to lose weight, or to maintain a healthy weight, a healthy diet and regular exercise are key, but exercise doesn’t work for everyone. However, as multiple studies show, for people who are obese, and those with type 2 diabetes, weight loss surgery could be more effective than diet and exercise in achieving weight loss and treating obesity related conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The evidence of weight loss surgeries generally positive effects are well known, as well as their general contribution to a healthy lifestyle. So it’s no wonder, then, that more and more Americans are opting to become medical tourists and have life-changing weight loss surgery in Mexico, not just to lose weight, but to make themselves healthier and happier.

The Study

Researchers set out to test whether bariatric surgery is more effective than natural weight loss measures. They did this by analysing the ongoing health of 796 obese adults, all of whom had a BMI of between 30 and 52, over a period of 2 years. The results showed that:

  • The adults who had received weight loss surgery, such as lap band surgery, gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve, gastric sleeve plication surgery lost more body weight than those who opted for non-surgical weight loss methods.
  •  In addition, weight loss surgery patients showed a higher rate of remission of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes.
  •  People who had weight loss surgery experienced greater improvement in quality of life than those who lost weight non-surgically.
  • Weight loss surgery recipients needed less medication following weight loss than the non-surgical groups.
  •  Weight loss surgery appeared to reduce blood lipid levels (the amount of fat in the blood).
  •  No cardiovascular events (heart attacks) or deaths were seen in the two years following weight loss surgery.
  • There was no evidence, in this analysis, that weight loss surgery can reduce blood pressure more than non-surgical weight loss.

This study clearly supports the short term benefits of weight loss surgery, whilst other, longer term studies show that the benefits of weight loss surgery continue for many years in cases where weight loss is maintained. However, it is important to note that, even if an individual undergoes weight loss surgery, a healthy diet and exercise are essential for weight management in the future as well as overall health.

With obesity on the rise, more people are turning to weight loss surgery, and with the low cost, top quality weight loss surgery procedures offered by one of the world’s best bariatric surgeons in Mexico, it is no wonder that so many have weight loss surgery in Mexico.

To find out more about the facilities and procedures offered at the 28 hospitals within the Angeles Health network, Contact us today.