Bariatric surgery, such as the gastric sleeve, the intragastric balloon, the gastric clip, the gastric bypass and the duodenal switch, are safe and efficient treatments for obesity. In many instances in which patients have tried changing their lifestyles with diets and regular exercise, but have failed in obtaining significant changes, a bariatric surgery can be a method that can lead to substantial weight loss and a better quality of life.
Obesity is a disease that affects people from all genders and age groups. As such, obesity affects older adults too. As our general life expectancy increases due to medical and technological advances, it is safe to assume that the older adults’ population, of age 65 and above, will grow significantly in the near future. People nowadays are expected to live way longer than previous generations have. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the life expectancy of Americans is of 78.8 years[1], which is a little higher than the global average of 73 years[2]. And obesity among older adults has been on the rise during these past decades too.
Recent estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys demonstrate that adults over age 60 have obesity rates exceeding 37.5% in males and 39.4% in females[3].
Older adults might have trouble following health recommendations that are usually prescribed to younger patients because of their reduced mobility and their frailty. For instance, some older adults can’t be expected to engage in vigorous exercise to stimulate weight loss. Others might have life threatening conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes and, in these cases, achieving fast improvements is almost a matter of life and death.
Bariatric surgery is a suitable treatment for obesity among older adults, that delivers fast weight loss results and can also ameliorate life deteriorating conditions. For instance, in a study involving 451 older adults that underwent bariatric surgery, after 1 year of their surgery, 34.74% had a remission of their diabetes, 49.67% showed improvement in their health, and only 15.59% experienced no changes in their comorbidities. The mean excess of body weight among these patients was of 70%, ranging from 32 to 92%[4].
The main concern when it comes to bariatric surgery in older adults is that, as it happens with any type of surgery, the surgical procedure might pose some risks. However,
Bariatric surgery currently, has a low risk of complication and mortality, less than colonic surgery, cholecystectomy and appendectomy[4].
At LIMARP International Center of Excellence for obesity, we offer integrative treatments for patients struggling with obesity, including older adults. Our treatment plans are designed to fit every patients’ needs.
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If you’re interested in knowing more about bariatric surgery for older adults, call our clinic today. Our team of experts will be glad to help.
References
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Life Expectancy,” National Center for Health Statistics, Oct. 20, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm (accessed Nov. 29, 2021).
[2] Banco Mundial, “Esperanza de vida al nacer, total (años) | Data,” Datos, 2021. https://datos.bancomundial.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN (accessed Nov. 29, 2021).
[3] J. A. Batsis and A. B. Zagaria, “Addressing Obesity in Aging Patients,” Med. Clin. North Am., vol. 102, no. 1, pp. 65–85, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2017.08.007.
[4] S. Susmallian, A. Raziel, R. Barnea, and H. Paran, “Bariatric surgery in older adults,” Medicine (Baltimore), vol. 98, no. 3, p. e13824, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000013824.
