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Obesity Surgery Linked to Thinning Bones

suntimes.com — A study performed by the Mayo clinic leads doctors to believe that patients may be twice as likely to break a bone after undergoing bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jun 19, 2009

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  • xeriscaped, on 06/19/2009, -0/+17This has been known for a while.

    Osteoporosis, various vitamin deficiencies, gallstones and reflux (with gastric banding) are all complications with bariatric surgery. Other "complications" with the procedure include decreased rates of diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea to name a few. It is necessary to measure the risks of a procedure against the risks of not having a procedure.
  • avataros, on 06/19/2009, -0/+11"I'm not fat, I'm big-boned"
    ergo
    "I'm no longer fat, so I'm thinner-boned"

    Sounds like a truism to me.
  • gcnaddict, on 06/19/2009, -0/+8Makes sense: you're slashing out huge chunks of your digestive tract, which means your ability to process various essential nutrients goes poof.

    That's also why many people who've undergone a gastric bypass also become lactose intolerant.
  • Chairboy, on 06/19/2009, -0/+7Absolutely. Wife and I got the adjustable gastric band and have lost and kept off a lot of weight. We're not Ken & Barbie, but we're tons healthier. Sure, I can't wolf down a quick meal and I can't pack away bread and stuff like that without it coming back up, but that's a GOOD thing. In the first few months, there were days when I regretted having the surgery because of small complications like this.

    But my overall quality of life has taken a massive turn for the good.

    There are no miracle cures for the fat with zero side effects, people. Just tools that can be effective if the user puts their mind to it, and the gastric band and the bypass surgeries and whatnot are just that. Great tools.
  • Pinkertinkle, on 06/19/2009, -1/+8Fat converts testosterone to estrogen. Estrogen protects bones, less fat, less bone protection. It's been long known obese people are less likely to have osteoporosis, however they end up with the other complications of obesity: diabetes, terrible arthritis, heart attacks, strokes, increased risk of several cancers, and psychiatric problems resulting from their generally slovenly unattractive appearance.
  • meghanomics, on 06/19/2009, -0/+6Because there is not as much cushion to break the fall?
  • praisethelard, on 06/19/2009, -0/+5So you're saying being fat helps my bones? Sweet!
  • DirtPile, on 06/19/2009, -0/+4I just took my MCAT.
  • abraxsis, on 06/19/2009, -1/+5This is just one more reason why these types of surgeries should be more closely regulated. I dropped 120 pounds from 350+ completely naturally. Clean eating and exercise. Then had a long bout of sickness due to what was eventually diagnosed as gall bladder issues, had surgery in April, and today I finished my first 2 weeks back at the gym. I've lost 3 pounds and feeling great. Bariatric surgery is the worst thing to come along IMO. Yes, like many elective surgeries there are sometimes extenuating circumstances where it is required to save someone's life. Someone who is 150 pounds overweight and otherwise healthy is NOT one of those circumstances. They are just fat, lazy, and refuse to control their food (notice I did not say "can't") ... and since I was one of them I feel I am completely justified in saying that. Fat people are welcome to flame me, do your worst, cause trust me when I say I've used all the excuses already.

    Oh, to top it all off, if I have bariatric surgery and lose tons of weight I can have body contouring surgery paid for by my insurance. However, since I lost the weight on my own, I'm up ***** creek without a paddle if I happen to have some loose skin when I'm finished. Did I mention that ***** creek has an 8000-10000 dollar entry fee?
  • V3n0M, on 06/19/2009, -0/+3Apply the bone cement! STAT!
  • Paulish, on 06/19/2009, -1/+4Sooo, eat right and EXERCISE. Weight lifting increases bone density. Looks like you still can't beat the good ol' fashioned way of losing weight.
  • sharedknowledge, on 06/19/2009, -0/+3so the thinking is-- lose the excess poundage, your bones won't have to support so much weight? just joking...
  • footodors, on 06/19/2009, -0/+2Can't win for losing!!!!
  • jf5qy, on 06/19/2009, -1/+3anyone else find it ironic that it's called the "Mayo" clinic? i thought this was an onion article at first... lawl
  • raidawg2, on 06/19/2009, -0/+2im pretty sure they would refer to themselves as big boned rather than admit they are fat. so not so much happy as exposed
  • bigteebo, on 06/19/2009, -0/+2Would you prefer an independent study from the Butter Troll Medical Foundation? :)
  • raidawg2, on 06/19/2009, -1/+3so like will humans one day "evolve" into boneless blobs.. like jabba? maybe develop an exoskeleton
  • SamanthaSherwoo, on 06/25/2009, -0/+1Surgery that isn't necessary -heck, even surgery that IS necessary - always carries a risk. How sad that people think they need to be cut up to be thin. Usually doesn't work, anyway.
  • DirtPile, on 06/19/2009, -1/+2Well played, sirrah. Well played, indeed.
  • DirtPile, on 06/19/2009, -0/+1It's like good advice that you just can't take.
  • Groovydoo, on 06/19/2009, -1/+2I wonder what the statistic is for those who have undergone bariatric surgery that are still obese or at the very least overweight? I bet the stat is well over 50%!
  • dvsbastard, on 06/19/2009, -1/+2It's like rain on your wedding day!
  • drmobutu, on 06/20/2009, -0/+1It's already happening...we're like the whales, but with electronic media, instead of sonar...
  • Foamator, on 06/19/2009, -0/+1Honestly, I came here expecting it to be an Onion article saying just that.
  • TheFamousOne2, on 06/19/2009, -0/+1Hold your tongue. I had gastric bypass in april of last year, lost 180+ pounds and am KEEPING it off.
  • flux123, on 06/19/2009, -0/+1It's a free ride when you've already paid!
  • kashem, on 06/19/2009, -1/+2One of my coworkers had gastric bypass, and all she can keep down is junkfood. Basically they're getting malnourished because regular food makes them throw it right up.
  • Chairboy, on 06/19/2009, -2/+2So what you're saying is that it's _not_ ironic?
  • KirstenPike, on 06/19/2009, -2/+1I wonder what the statistic is for those who have undergone bariatric surgery that are still obese or at the very least overweight? I bet the stat is well over 42%

    http://ezinearticles.com/?id=2271470
  • DAILYCROW, on 06/19/2009, -3/+2where is pedo bear when we need him?
  • inactive, on 06/19/2009, -4/+3So what? Fat people have always claimed to be "big boned", anyway. You'd think they'd be happy about this,
  • moessingert, on 06/19/2009, -4/+2Why is this surprising? Did no one see WALLE?!?!?!?!!?!
    :O

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