| Bariatric Surgery.info Why Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) Doesn't Work |
Contrary views about evidence of weight
loss surgery benefits |
Weight Loss Surgery: Some Opposing ViewsPosition of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance: "The scientific community has not provided convincing evidence that gastrointestinal surgery increases life expectancy or improves overall health... Moreover, medical complications from weight loss surgery may take 10 years or more to develop, yet because procedures are modified so frequently, follow-up studies are usually limited to two to five years or less.... There is no conclusive evidence that gastrointestinal surgery for weight loss increases longevity or improves overall health... Therefore, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance condemns gastrointestinal surgery for weight loss under any circumstances." Further Doubts About Weight Loss Surgery(1) In one controlled clinical trial in Denmark, published in a 1984 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), patients had more health problems than comparable patients who were put on very low-calorie diets. (2) The 2000 Mayo Clinic study on gastric bypass reported that 20 to 25 percent of the patients developed life-threatening complications within five years. These are similar health-risks to those produced by the weight loss drug phen-fen, which was considered dangerous enough to take off the market. (3) The American Medical Association advised surgeons in the April 9, 2003, issue of JAMA to work around the scientific issues by telling patients weight loss surgery is "investigational" and informing them that "it is not known whether these procedures will help them." Gastric Bypass Bariatric Information |