Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have recently looked into the lasting impacts of gastric bypass surgeries, specifically focusing on the metabolic changes patients experience.
Their results are surprising: the most significant metabolic shifts happened shortly after surgery. Within just one year, patients’ metabolite and fat concentrations seemed to revert to pre-surgery levels.
The Weight Gain Dilemma
Past studies have indicated that many people who opt for gastric bypass surgery experience weight gain within five years of the procedure.
But the question of how these surgeries affect metabolism over time has been less explored. In this recent research published in the journal Obesity, the scientists investigated how metabolism shifted in overweight patients before and after they underwent the surgery.
Peter Spégel, the study’s lead, emphasizes that merely observing post-surgery weight might not give a full picture. He notes, “Our study provides a deeper insight into the metabolic changes tied to gastric bypass operations.”
Understanding the Study and Its Results
The research involved 148 participants, both with and without type 2 diabetes, who all had the gastric bypass procedure in Sweden. The team collected blood samples before the surgery and on multiple occasions after the operation.
Detailed analysis of these samples revealed that by the first year post-surgery, many participants’ fat and metabolite levels had nearly returned to what they were before the procedure.
Nils Wierup, one of the study’s main authors, pointed out that some changes appeared while participants still showcased a reduced BMI.
“By understanding these metabolic shifts, we hope to recognize early signs of unhealthy changes, which could help in taking preventive steps,” he said.
Implications for Type 2 Diabetes Risk
The research also threw light on certain interesting patterns. For instance, levels of specific polyunsaturated fats (which can lower heart disease risks) surged right after the surgery but dropped as time went on.
Additionally, specific amino acid concentrations, usually high in those with insulin resistance, decreased immediately after surgery but then started increasing.
Peter Spégel concluded that while the surgery reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes for those who didn’t have it, the risk seemed to rise again a year later.
And for those with diabetes at the time of the surgery, the remission period might be followed by an increased chance of the disease returning.
Surgery vs. Diet: Which Has a More Lasting Impact?
Interestingly, another study by the same team compared the impacts of a low-calorie diet and a gastric bypass operation. They found that while the diet majorly affected metabolism, surgery induced smaller changes.
Their newest findings suggest that for many, the positive metabolic effects of the surgery could fade within a year.
Nils Wierup notes that despite these findings, bariatric surgeries still offer benefits. Many with type 2 diabetes witness a remission after the procedure, and even if some patients regain weight, it’s usually not to their original levels.
He concludes, “We need to delve deeper into individual metabolic responses as they can differ.”
In essence, while gastric bypass surgery brings immediate benefits, its long-term metabolic effects remain a topic that needs further exploration.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about Scientists find key to long-term weight loss success and findings of Tirzepatide: a breakthrough in faster blood sugar control and weight loss for type 2 diabetes.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that green diet can reduce belly fat much better, and newest diabetes drugs may lower body weight and blood sugar.
The study was published in Obesity.
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