Knowing How Bariatric Surgery Causes Weight Loss Can Lead to Beneficial Therapies
Bariatric surgery is an effective approach to weight loss
for those dealing with severe obesity. In fact in
many cases, bariatric surgery has proven to be more
effective in providing long term weight loss than
diet, exercise, drugs, or lifestyle modification.
However, the surgery can cause trauma and associated
complications. Therefore, extensive research is
ongoing to develop therapeutic methods that provide
bariatric surgical weight loss results without the
related trauma and potential complications.
We've believed, for some time, that investigation into how bariatric surgery causes weight loss and other positive changes in the body would be beneficial in helping experts develop multiple therapies for treating obesity.
It is commonly felt that bariatric surgery produces weight loss because the surgery makes physical changes to the body that restrict the amount of food a person wants to eat, or the surgery modifies the intestinal system to allow less calories to be taken in when food is eaten. But bariatric surgery appears to do more.
Investigators in Sweden have found that bariatric surgery induces modifications in gene expression after the weight loss. The changes occur in at least two genes. These genes are "called PGC-1alpha and PDK4." And these genes play the primary role in glucose control and fat metabolism.
Another study indicates that bariatric surgery changes gut bacteria. The surgery "replaces fattening microbes with slimming ones." And researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University did investigations to determine if the gut changes were the cause or the result of weight loss after bariatric surgery.
In the study, the researchers transferred gut microbiota from obese mice that had undergone bariatric surgery to obese mice that had not had the surgery. And these mice lost weight. (Precautions were taken to insure that the experimental results were accurate.)
But again, while studies like the two mentioned above show that bariatric surgery does have positive effects, we should not forget that the surgery causes trauma and can cause complications. Still, the studies show how important it is for researchers to investigate bariatric surgery as a way to develop therapies that can lead to beneficial weight loss and other improvements in health without the trauma associated with bariatric surgery.
We've believed, for some time, that investigation into how bariatric surgery causes weight loss and other positive changes in the body would be beneficial in helping experts develop multiple therapies for treating obesity.
It is commonly felt that bariatric surgery produces weight loss because the surgery makes physical changes to the body that restrict the amount of food a person wants to eat, or the surgery modifies the intestinal system to allow less calories to be taken in when food is eaten. But bariatric surgery appears to do more.
Investigators in Sweden have found that bariatric surgery induces modifications in gene expression after the weight loss. The changes occur in at least two genes. These genes are "called PGC-1alpha and PDK4." And these genes play the primary role in glucose control and fat metabolism.
Another study indicates that bariatric surgery changes gut bacteria. The surgery "replaces fattening microbes with slimming ones." And researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University did investigations to determine if the gut changes were the cause or the result of weight loss after bariatric surgery.
In the study, the researchers transferred gut microbiota from obese mice that had undergone bariatric surgery to obese mice that had not had the surgery. And these mice lost weight. (Precautions were taken to insure that the experimental results were accurate.)
But again, while studies like the two mentioned above show that bariatric surgery does have positive effects, we should not forget that the surgery causes trauma and can cause complications. Still, the studies show how important it is for researchers to investigate bariatric surgery as a way to develop therapies that can lead to beneficial weight loss and other improvements in health without the trauma associated with bariatric surgery.
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posted by Information Uncover at
6:00 PM
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