Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery

Results of Five-Year Follow-up

* Success measured as a loss of 10 percent of initial body weight.
** Weight loss is not maintained once treatment ends.
*** Success measured as a loss of 50 percent of excess body weight (equivalent to loss of approximately 20 to 25 percent of initial body weight).

The above chart compares the long-term effectiveness of three different obesity treatments: diet and exercise, weight loss medications, and bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery clearly has the best weight loss outcome compared to the other two treatments:

• 50 to 70 percent of people were able to lose at least 50 percent of their excess weight and keep it off for five years.
• After five years, only 2 to 5 percent of the people who dieted and exercised had maintained a weight loss of at least 10 percent.
• People who had taken weight loss medications were not able to maintain any weight loss

Losing 50% to 70% of excess weight is just the beginning...