A study conducted at the University of Gothenburg reveals that individuals who have undergone weight-loss surgery still experience long-term health benefits, even if they regain some of the weight they initially lost. The findings, published in The Lancet Region Health – Europe, offer new insights into the health consequences of partial weight regain after bariatric surgery, an area previously lacking substantial research.
The study analyzed data from 1,346 participants in the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study, which is the world’s most extensive investigation into the long-term effects of bariatric surgery versus traditional obesity treatments. The research focused on mortality, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and microvascular disease, which affects the body’s smallest blood vessels. The data was supplemented with information from Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare.
One year after surgery, participants had lost an average of 30 kilograms. However, by the fourth year, more than half of them had regained at least 20 percent of the weight lost initially. Researchers compared two groups: one group that had regained significant weight and another that either maintained their weight loss or experienced minimal weight regain.
The study found no significant differences between the groups in terms of cancer risk or life expectancy. The incidence and mortality rates for cancer remained the same, regardless of weight regain. However, individuals who regained weight were found to have a higher risk of microvascular disease, with an incidence rate of 11.0 per 1,000 person-years, compared to 8.7 per 1,000 in those who maintained their weight loss.
A similar trend was noted for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, although the difference was less pronounced. The incidence rate for these conditions was 15.7 per 1,000 person-years among those who regained weight, compared to 13.0 per 1,000 in those who kept their lower weight.
Kajsa Sjöholm, associate professor at the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, and one of the lead researchers, emphasized the significance of the study’s findings. “Until now, the effects of weight regain following major weight loss on long-term health and mortality have remained unknown. What we’re now seeing is that even those who regain some of their weight loss experience long-lasting positive effects, with the same life expectancy as those who maintain their lower weight,” she said.
This study provides vital new understanding of the lasting benefits of weight-loss surgery, offering reassurance to those who may worry about regaining weight after significant weight loss.
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