Bariatric surgery, indicated for weight loss, such as gastric bypass or gastric band, could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 80% in obese people, compared to usual treatments, says a new researchpublished in «The Lancet Diabetes & Amp;Endocrinology ».

Overweight or obesity are the main modifiable risk factors of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that more than 80% of adults with type 2 diabetes have overweight or obesity.

For a while since it has been speculated with the impact of bariatric surgery as a way to reduce diabetes.Now, this work led by Martin Gulliford, of Kings College in London (United Kingdom), has valued the effect of surgical procedures of weight loss on the development of diabetes.

control groups

Thus, the researchers identified 2,167 obese adults without diabetes who underwent one of the three surgery procedures for obesity: adjustable laparoscopic band, gastrectomy or gastric bypass.They then compared the data with those of 2,167 controls matched by age, sex, body mass index and blood glucose control that had not been subjected to surgery or other treatments of obesity.The participants were followed for a maximum of 7 years (average 2.8 years).

During the follow -up, 38 new diabetes diagnoses were produced in the group of participants who had undergone surgery to lose weight, compared to the 177 of the control group.Compared to controls, the incidence of diabetes was reduced by around 80% in participants who underwent surgery, even after controlling other factors, such as smoking, arterial hypertension and high cholesterol.

Gulliford believes that "the results suggest that bariatric surgery can be a very effective method to prevent the appearance of new cases of diabetes in people with severe obesity."In his opinion it is necessary to understand “how we can use weight loss through surgery in combination with more conventional interventions, such as increasing physical activity and promoting healthy eating, as part of a global diabetes prevention strategy».

to answer

In a comment that accompanies article Jacques Himpens, of the Saint Hospital of Pierre University in Brussels (Belgium) states that despite the results shownThere are many unanswered questions.

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