Weight Loss Surgery Decreases the Odds of Heart Attack

Melissa Beitner • December 26, 2023

Bariatric surgery isn’t just a proven method to help obese people lose weight. A study published in JAMA has now found it can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and angina in patients.


In this large cohort study of 86, 964 individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and severe obesity, compared with non-surgical care, bariatric surgery was associated with a 49% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, heart failure and ischaemic stroke.


OBESITY AND HEART DISEASE

Heart disease is the leading case of death in both men and women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the American Heart Association, obesity contributes directly to cardiovascular risk factors. These risks include:

  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Cholesterol
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Inflammation


The more overweight a person is, the more likely there is a chance of developing heart disease. An obese person has more body mass, and the increased mass means the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout a person's body.


Researchers say that this recent study provides evidence that bariatric surgery is an effective tool to reduce weight and ultimately lower the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease for select patients.


Elsaid MI, Li Y, Bridges JFP, Brock G, Minacapelli CD, Rustgi VK. Association of Bariatric Surgery With Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults With Severe Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(10)


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