Bariatric Surgery Offers More | Two new studies show that not only can weight loss lessen the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms, but having bariatric surgery can help alleviate problems with urinary tract function before weight loss occurs.
“What has been a surprise and what is potentially so important is that so many problems, including issues related to urinary function, improve so quickly after bariatric surgery, even before great weight loss has occurred,” said Andrew Kennedy-Smith, MB BCh, FRACS, Wellington Hospital, senior author of a study examining the effect of bariatric surgery.
The first study examined 4,666 men aged 55 to 100 years who were diagnosed with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and saw a general practitioner in December 2009 over the course of 12 days. Pourya Pashootan and his colleagues from the Urology Department of Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France found that of the total participants, 51.5 percent had metabolic syndrome and 47 percent received treatment for LUTS.
The second set of research was a prospective cohort study conducted by Serge Luke, MD, from the Department of Urology, Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand and colleagues. They examined the effects of bariatric surgery on LUTS by assessing patients before surgery, six to eight weeks after, and one year after surgery. Seventy patients were included in this study, which showed that these patients not only experienced significant weight loss and BMI reduction, but also a significant reduction in overall symptoms six weeks after surgery. Their results were maintained at the year mark of research assessments.
Overall, both studies suggest that not only can bariatric surgery provide you with weight loss and a slimmer figure, but it can help with your metabolic and urinary tract symptoms. To learn more about both studies, read Weight Loss Surgery May Lessen Urinary Symptoms from Medscape.
If you are interested in weight loss surgery, check out MBL’s Ultimate Guide To Weight Loss Surgery.
