SPAIN – The bariatric surgery to treat obesity can increase the longevity of patients an average of ten years, according to experts, because in addition to correcting the excessive weight, also positively influences other comorbidities characteristics of these patients such as diabetes, the hypertension, dyslipidemia, and even obstructive sleep apnea.

Dr. Carlos Sala Palau, endocrine-metabolic Service Specialist Surgery at Faith of Valencia, said that following the hospital intervention, diabetics no longer need insulin while hypertension and dyslipidemia improve or disappear, most apnea patients sleep or may stop treatment with CPAP therapy and other health problems are also reduced the risk of developing tumors, especially colon , breast and gynecological.

According to the Spanish Association for the Study of Obesity, in 2014 22.9% of Spanish adults were obese, and obesity is expected to increase in Spain between 5 and 9 points over the next 20 years. In addition, obese people consume 20% more health resources and 68% more drugs than those whose weight is normal, so that bariatric surgery is considered an intervention cost effective compared to other obesity treatments less effective.

One expert in Bariatric said that this surgery is particularly suitable for patients with BMI> 40 or> 35 if they also have other comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or apnea, and ensures that bariatric and metabolic surgery is now done with less invasive techniques, so it is safer, their results have improved, and reduced potential complications. However, the specialist has warned that it is a technique that requires learning, and surgeons need to be trained to carry it out and get the best results for the patient.