- Researchers investigated the effects of bariatric surgery for weight loss on cancer risk and mortality.
- They found that bariatric surgery reduced cancer risk by 25% and mortality by 43%, especially in women.
- However, further studies are needed to understand underlying mechanisms.
Around 21% of deaths in the United States in 2019 were linked to cancer. Thirteen types of cancer are linked to obesity, including
Currently,
While studies show that higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to increased cancer risk, it is less clear whether ways to reduce BMI reduce cancer risk.
Studies
Understanding more about the effects of bariatric surgery on cancer rates and outcomes could inform preventive strategies for cancer.
Recently, researchers analyzed long-term healthcare data from patients who had bariatric surgery. They found that the surgery was linked to lower cancer incidence and cancer mortality.
The study was published in the journal
For the study, the researchers analyzed healthcare data from 21,837 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery between 1982 and 2018 alongside data from 21,837 controls who had not undergone surgery who were matched for age, sex, and BMI.
Procedures included:
- Gastric bypass: reducing the size of the stomach and directing food to the middle part of the small intestine
- Gastric banding: when a silicon band is placed around the stomach to reduce stomach capacity
- Sleeve gastrectomy:…
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