Failure/Success Rate Of Gastric Bypass

March 13, 2006

What is the success rate (statistic) of persons undergoing bariatric

surgery? These are NOT easy statistics to come by, as many patients

fail mostly at following up with their surgeon's group so that

accurate statistics can be compiled.

It seems that about 85 - 90% of diets fail the morbidly (MO) and

super-morbidly obese (SMO). The average dieter is considered

a 'success' if they lose 10% of their excess weight. In the MO/SMO,

that amounts to a paltry 25 to 40 pounds (on average), which is not

enough to alleviate the health concerns created by being MO/SMO.

Bariatric surgery is considered successful if the patient loses

between 50 and 75% of their excess weight, depending on the surgery

performed, surgical group performing, the patient's mental health

AND their starting weight. It is further considered a success if

the patient maintains a loss of at least 48% over the long term (5+

years), even with a weight regain of 5 to 10 percent over that time.

" With gastric bypass, as well as the biliopancreatic diversion and

duodenal switch, weight loss is rapid and substantial. Excess weight

loss one year after surgery is generally 70% or more. Studies have

found that 5 years after gastric bypass surgery most individuals

will have maintained 48 to 74% of their excess weight loss. One

study found that even 14 years after surgery, average excess weight

loss for over 600 gastric bypass patients exceeded 50%. "

[beyondchange-obesity.com/obResearch/surgeryATool.html]

" Bariatric surgery remains the only durable treatment for extreme

overweight and can dramatically improve health and quality of life

for morbidly obese individuals, says UAB bariatric surgeon J.

Gleysteen, MD, who notes that at 5-year follow up, medically

supervised weight-loss programs report a 96% failure rate.

For patients undergoing bariatric surgery, mean excess weight lost

ranges from 50% to 75%. After 14 years, excess weight loss still

exceeds 50% in

March 13, 2006

It is nice to see articles such as this. Statistics are very hard to come by.

For the super morbidly obese (which I was in 2002) this surgery was a miracle.

Four years later I struggle to keep the weight off, but to a different degree.

At 400 lbs. I struggled to lose 100 lbs. and was still obese. Now, I gain 20

over the Winter and I have a meltdown each Spring. I diet and exercise

faithfully until the Summer clothes fit again. I would like to break this

cycle, but for now, I will take this struggle with welcome arms over the

struggle I had before my surgery.

Success and failure can't just be measured by the scale. Even when I got down

to 250 lbs. my bone spurs and back quit hurting. My blood pressure was lower

(it was never out of normal range). My sex life was terrific. My energy level

was through the roof and I could buy clothes in a store again. I guess what I

am saying is even losing 150 lbs. I would have considered myself a success. I

strived hard to get the final weight off and still struggle, but with boards

like this it makes the struggle less lonely.

March 13, 2006

How true! I never reached my magical number on the scale but there

is nothing I can't do even with 25 extra pounds on this 50 year old

body.

I am still watching my diet. And trying to increase my exercise!

Maybe not trying too hard but I never forget where I came from!

As a pre op I was facing an early death and/or kidney dialysis. Now

I am relatively healthy and active, engaged to a wonderful man and

have endless opportunities PLUS a wardrobe of 4 inch heels and lots

of new clothes in single digit sizes. Life isn't perfect but its

good! By all accounts my WLS is a success!

Robyn

>

> It is nice to see articles such as this. Statistics are very hard

to come by. For the super morbidly obese (which I was in 2002) this

surgery was a miracle. Four years later I struggle to keep the

weight off, but to a different degree. At 400 lbs. I struggled to

lose 100 lbs. and was still obese. Now, I gain 20 over the Winter

and I have a meltdown each Spring. I diet and exercise faithfully

until the Summer clothes fit again. I would like to break this

cycle, but for now, I will take this struggle with welcome arms over

the struggle I had before my surgery.

>

> Success and failure can't just be measured by the scale. Even

when I got down to 250 lbs. my bone spurs and back quit hurting. My

blood pressure was lower (it was never out of normal range). My sex

life was terrific. My energy level was through the roof and I could

buy clothes in a store again. I guess what I am saying is even

losing 150 lbs. I would have considered myself a success. I strived

hard to get the final weight off and still struggle, but with boards

like this it makes the struggle less lonely.

>

March 13, 2006

Hi Annette!

In case you've never seen these pictures, here is another reason why

my surgery was a success even though I never reached my " goal "

weight. BTW, these pix were taken 3 months before my 50th birthday!

http://tinyurl.com/cec7h