Old abd fat a bad combination.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Research about bariatric surgery - Brief article

The first large-scale review of weight-loss surgeries performed on older adults suggests bariatric procedures generally should be limited to people younger than 65, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, have found. Their study shows that older individuals experience less weight loss and far more complications than younger patients, indicating that the risks often outweigh the benefits of these types of surgeries in older patients.

In addition to age, the study found that men and those with electrolyte disorders and congestive heart failure were at greater risk of death from bariatric surgery or related complications. Other conditions that increase the risk for adverse events and require longer hospital stays include diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, and depression. Common complications include gastrointestinal, respiratory, and cardiac problems. Gastrointestinal difficulties were most common, occurring in about 30% of older patients...