A large-scale Australian study led by Monash University and the University of Sydney has confirmed that bariatric surgery is both safe and effective in promoting significant weight loss and reducing the need for diabetes medications. The findings, published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery, are based on data from over 122,000 patients who underwent bariatric procedures in Australia between February 28, 2012, and December 31, 2021.
The study analyzed 134,625 completed surgeries, revealing that patients experienced varying degrees of weight loss depending on the procedure. Five years after surgery, those who underwent one-anastomosis gastric bypass achieved a total body weight loss of 34.88%, while those who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass lost 30.73%, patients with sleeve gastrectomy lost 26.5%, and those with adjustable gastric bands saw a reduction of 17.6%.
Notably, 13.6% of participants were being treated for diabetes prior to surgery. After 12 months, 71.6% of these patients no longer required diabetes medication, and after five years, the figure remained high at 61%. These results underscore bariatric surgery’s potential to significantly improve health outcomes for individuals with obesity and diabetes.
Despite concerns surrounding the safety of such procedures, the study found that adverse events were rare. Within 90 days of surgery, only 3.6% of patients experienced complications such as unplanned readmissions, intensive care admissions, re-operations, or death. This rate is comparable to that of other common keyhole surgeries, such as gallbladder removal.
Professor Wendy Brown, Chair of the Department of Surgery at Monash University and lead author of the study, hailed the results as a breakthrough in understanding bariatric surgery’s benefits in a real-world setting. “This is the first community-level data showing that bariatric surgery is safe and effective, confirming previous findings from single centers and smaller trials,” Professor Brown said. “It reassures patients, healthcare providers, and insurers that the procedure delivers long-term health improvements, especially in terms of diabetes management.”
The study also highlighted the significant financial implications of these results, with 61% of patients who were previously on diabetes medication being able to stop their medication five years post-surgery. This represents a substantial reduction in healthcare costs, benefiting both individuals and the wider community.
Furthermore, Professor Brown emphasized the low rate of adverse events, noting that obesity, traditionally a risk factor for surgical complications, did not appear to increase the risk in bariatric procedures. “The safety of bariatric surgery means we can offer individuals a safe and lasting solution to obesity-related health problems,” she said.
The study was conducted using data from the Australia and New Zealand Bariatric Surgery Registry, which tracks the safety, weight loss, and health improvements of bariatric surgery patients. The registry, which started in 2012 and expanded to New Zealand in 2018, will continue to provide valuable insights, including patient-reported outcomes starting in 2025.
As the research team looks to further explore revisional surgeries and outcomes for patients with both obesity and diabetes, the findings signal a promising future for the role of bariatric surgery in managing obesity-related health issues.
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