By Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Carrying too much weight adds chronic stress to the body, including debilitating the immune system, in addition to increasing risk for cardiovascular issues, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that obese people experienced more severe symptoms of Covid-19, longer recoveries and higher death rates.
This month, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) reported new university study findings that obese people who had bariatric surgery as a treatment modality for obesity could experience better outcomes from COVID-19.
Doctors studied 620 Covid-19 patients, including 130 who had previously undergone bariatric surgery, and a control group of 496 patients with obesity of similar age and gender who were eligible for these surgeries but had not undergone them. Improved outcomes were cited even for bariatric patients who were still clinically obese after surgery.
As an obesity specialist, the findings of this study come as no surprise to me.
July 2020: Outdoorsman Loses 94 Pounds in 8 Months after Gastric Sleeve
A gastric sleeve patient’s family stricken by Covid-19
In the spring of 2020, one of my 2019 bariatric patients was diagnosed with Covid, along with several family members who did not survive. She was understandably panicked by her own diagnosis.
While many of her family members also suffered from obesity, her previous bariatric surgery– and subsequent weight loss of nearly 100 pounds–significantly reduced the severity of her symptoms to the point she did not require hospitalization. Thankfully, she went on to make a full recovery.
How bariatric surgery protects people against Covid-19
Patients who lost excess weight after bariatric procedures–gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric banding–experienced these outcomes:
- Less likely to be hospitalized
- Less likely to need a mechanical ventilator for breathing
- Less likely to die in the hospital (even though many of them were still clinically obese)
The study found less obese patients were also released from the hospital faster, and those who were admitted to the ICU spent fewer days there, according to a report in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.
Keep in mind, the research cited here is one of multiple global clinical studies which have uniformly come to the same patient outcomes–there is overwhelming evidence that severely overweight people who had bariatric surgery ultimately reduced their risk for severe Covid-10 symptoms and those who were diagnosed experienced faster recoveries.
Dr. Seun on YouTube: Find Out How Nurse Debi Lost 118+ Pounds during Covid-19
Weight loss can help mitigate obesity-related diseases
If you are considering a surgical weight loss solution, there has never been a better time to focus on strengthening your immune system by mitigating the stress of obesity on your body and essential organs.
In contrast to 18 months ago, hospitals are very equipped to offset any virus exposure for patients. From my firsthand vantage point, the hospital can be one of the most sanitary environments for anyone seeking medical care.
I invite you to remotely attend one of my live webinars to learn more about the bariatric journey, find out if you qualify and determine how much weight you can lose in the first six months after surgery. Call our team of friendly bariatric experts at 732-414-2707 to learn more or schedule an appointment with Prime Surgicare.