Findings from a recent study indicate that heart function in patients with morbid obesity returns to normal after bariatric surgery, but not after lifestyle interventions. The results suggest that bariatric surgery may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, is titled, “Effect of weight loss on subclinical myocardial injury: A clinical trial comparing gastric bypass surgery and intensive lifestyle intervention.”
“Obesity is a global problem that is closely linked to the development of cardiovascular disease,” said lead author, Dr. Magnus N. Lyngbakken, a PhD candidate at the University of Oslo in Norway, according to a news release. “Morbidly obese patients are at high risk of heart attack, heart failure, and diabetes.”