What are the effects of bariatric surgery on obesity related comorbidities?
Bariatric surgery has been shown to significantly reduce obesity-related comorbidities. Approximately 85% of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome will have improvement or effective remission at 2 years after surgery. Glycemic control occurs immediately and dramatically after bariatric surgery, especially after gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion, and for reasons which are not entirely clear. This effect is largely caused by dietary changes, adipose reduction with decreased cytokine production, and gastrointestinal (GI) hormonal changes. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, pseudotumor cerebri, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease also improve or resolve in over two thirds of patients after successful weight loss surgery. Salutary effects on other comorbidities, such as asthma, depression, arthritic pain, and even disability are frequently observed after surgery.
