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Weight-Loss Surgery Does More Than Help People Shed Pounds

It Reduces Shortness of Breath and Chest Pain, Increases Physical Activity

By Kurt Ullman, RN

WebMD Medical News

Reviewed by Dr. W.

July 11, 2000 -- The benefits of weight-loss surgery are more than just the

obvious, according to a new study. Research from Sweden suggests that, in

addition to lowering weight, the surgery can reduce shortness of breath and

chest pain, and encourage patients to become more physically active.

It has been estimated that nearly half of all Americans are overweight. Obese

people frequently suffer from a long list of health problems. In those with

severe obesity, surgery is often used when other weight-loss methods have

failed.

" It has been reported that people with obesity experience shortness of breath

and chest discomfort on exertion more frequently, when compared to those of

normal weight, " says Kristjan Karason, MD, PhD, an author of the study.

" Furthermore, those who are obese show lower levels of physical activity. A

sedentary lifestyle has been considered to play an important role in the

development of obesity. "

But less attention has been focused on the symptoms, such as chest pain and

shortness or breath, that occur when obese people try to exercise, says Karason,

who is with the department of cardiology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital

in Goteborg, Sweden.

The researchers compared more than 1,200 obese people who underwent various

types of gastric surgery to lose weight with nearly 1,100 obese people who were

given suggestions on exercising and improving their diets, but did not have

surgery. They found that those who had the surgery lost an average of roughly 62

pounds (about 23% of their body weight) in the two years after the operation.

The average weight in the other group remained unchanged after two years.

Among those who had surgery, the number of people suffering from high blood

pressure, diabetes, and sleep disturbances dropped substantially. The surgical

patients also reported less shortness of breath and fewer chest pains. These

symptoms all continued to improve as more weight was lost.

One of the most important findings was that the amount of leisure-time physical

activity increased as the patients' weight went down.

" The results suggest that physical inactivity can be considered as both a cause

and a consequence of the obese state, " Karason says. Breaking this vicious cycle

with surgery not only promotes general well-being, but also improves physical

fitness, which has been shown to reduce heart disease and stroke, Karason says.

Still, surgery is not for everyone with a weight problem; it is recommended only

for the very obese.

Harvey Sugerman, MD, tells WebMD that the study's findings actually may be more

significant for American patients than for Swedish ones. He points out that

surgeons in Sweden tend to use a kind of operation that results in less weight

loss than the gastric bypass surgery used most often here. The American patients

also tend to weigh more, which would make their symptoms even worse before

surgery.

Sugerman also points out that no dietary program has been shown to successfully

keep weight off in these individuals. But surgery has a significant effect on

weight loss that continues for at least five years. Sugerman is the M.

Hume professor of surgery at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia

Commonwealth University in Richmond.

" This article adds to the support for surgical treatment of obesity, " Sugerman

says. " I think it is reasonable to assume that if it shows improvement in

Swedish patients, there should be a much greater improvement in the heavier

American patients. "

For more information from WebMD, visit the Diseases and Conditions Weight

Control page.

Vital Information:

a.. Nearly half of all Americans are overweight, and for severely obese people

who don't succeed with other weight-loss treatments, surgery is an option.

b.. In addition to lowering weight, the surgery can improve other symptoms,

such as shortness of breath and chest pain during physical exertion, and can

encourage patients to become more physically active.

c.. Surgery should only be considered for the very obese. It can help people

keep weight off for at least five years.