[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/11\/bariatric-surgery-benefits\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/11\/bariatric-surgery-benefits\/","headline":"Bariatric Surgery Benefits","name":"Bariatric Surgery Benefits","description":"Shedding More Than Pounds It\u2019s well-known that bariatric surgery can produce impressive weight loss. But there\u2019s increasing evidence that it offers other health benefits, too. Bariatric surgery benefits can be seen across a range of life-threatening health problems. For example, a recent Swedish study showed weight-loss surgery can prevent diabetes among individuals who struggle with […]","datePublished":"2013-11-18","dateModified":"2022-08-30","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/bariatrics","name":"UPMC Bariatric Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/bariatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-bariatric-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/standing-on-scale.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/standing-on-scale.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/11\/bariatric-surgery-benefits\/","about":["Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":272,"keywords":["Anita Courcoulas MD","bariatric surgery","Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence","diabetes","heart disease","high blood pressure","high cholesterol","Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC","Section of Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery and General Surgery","sleep apnea","University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine","UPMC Hamot","UPMC Horizon","UPMC St. Margaret","weight loss surgery"],"articleBody":"Shedding More Than PoundsIt\u2019s well-known that bariatric surgery can produce impressive weight loss. But there\u2019s increasing evidence that it offers other health benefits, too. Bariatric surgery benefits can be seen across a range of life-threatening health problems.For example, a recent Swedish study showed weight-loss surgery can prevent diabetes among individuals who struggle with obesity.That news came as no surprise to Anita Courcoulas, MD, professor of surgery and chief of the Section of Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, an expert on bariatric surgery benefits. \u201cIt\u2019s another study demonstrating the lasting impact of bariatric surgery on health improvement,\u201d says Dr. Courcoulas. \u201cThe changes are real and durable.\u201dBenefits of Bariatric SurgeryDr. Courcoulas says bariatric surgery can help reverse:Diabetes.High blood pressure.Sleep apnea.Heart diseaseHigh cholesterol.Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?Current national guidelines recommend bariatric surgery for patients who are 80 to 100 pounds overweight and with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or a BMI of 35 or more for those with one or more significant obesity-related health conditions.Dr. Courcoulas predicts more and more patients will seek out bariatric surgery for health reasons \u2014 not just weight reasons. \u201cWe\u2019re just beginning to understand its full potential,\u201d she says.UPMC Bariatric ServicesUPMC Bariatric Services\u00a0offers a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss through a range of options, including nonsurgical medical weight loss, surgical approaches, support groups, information sessions, and more.\u00a0Visit our website to learn more about bariatric surgery. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 18, 2013, and was last reviewed on August 30, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2013","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Bariatric Surgery Benefits","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/11\/bariatric-surgery-benefits\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]