Bariatric surgery is an effective procedure for patients over the age of 65, a UK conference has heard.
A study involving 22 patients found that after two years they lost 24% of their original body weight – and that some no longer needed insulin to treat type 2 diabetes.
The findings were reported to the conference of the Society for Endocrinology in Brighton, UK.
The study was undertaken at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The researchers said that, like other bariatric surgery patients, their patients suffered some iron and vitamin D deficiencies.
Out of the patients, 11 had been on insulin and four no longer needed it. The others had their doses reduced successively.
Researcher Dr Nader Lessan said: "Although based on a small number of patients, our data suggest that successful weight loss and improved diabetes control can be safely achieved with surgery in older patients, which could have real benefits for their longevity and quality of life.
"Management of obesity and diabetes in old age is challenging. There is a lot of scepticism around conducting weight-loss surgery in patients over 65. Our study suggests these procedures could be considered in older adults as an effective intervention to aid weight loss and associated complications."
Abstract P215: Bariatric surgery outcomes amongst older obese patients: data from an Emirati cohort.
* In the last year, more than a million patients in England have been treated in hospital for obesity-related conditions, it was reported yesterday.
The Sunday Telegraph reported NHS Digital data showing that 12,000 patients were admitted directly for the consequences of obesity. In the other instances, obesity was a contributory factor.
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