Weight regain post-bariatric surgery still provides health benefits

A new study from the University of Gothenburg shows that people who regain weight after bariatric surgery still maintain some health benefits. The study is published in The Lancet Region Health – Europe. Researchers looked at the health impacts of regaining weight after significant weight loss. They studied 1,346 participants from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study. This ongoing study examines the long-term effects of weight-loss surgery. The participants lost an average of about 30 kilograms one year after surgery. However, four years later, over half of these individuals had regained at least 20 percent of the weight they had initially lost. The study compared those who regained this weight with those who kept their lower weight. The findings revealed that cancer risk and life expectancy were similar among both groups. This means that people who regained some weight did not face a higher risk of cancer or a shorter life. However, the researchers did find that those who regained weight were at a higher risk of microvascular disease, which affects small blood vessels. For cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, the trend was somewhat similar but less clear. The risk was higher for those who regained weight compared to those who maintained their weight loss. Lead researcher Kajsa Sjöholm noted that the study sheds light on the positive effects of significant weight loss. She stated that even those who regain some weight can still enjoy long-term health benefits, including the same life expectancy as those who maintain their lower weight.