As age advances, losing weight becomes more difficult, and related health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, and joint problems become more common. For this reason, many people think, “It is too late now; I cannot have surgery at this age.” However, a recently published study says the exact opposite.
In a study conducted by the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust team and published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 186 patients over the age of 69 with obesity were examined. Of these patients, 44 underwent sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery, while 142 did not undergo surgery.
The data obtained from these patients were compared. The risk of death among those who had surgery was found to be 68–75% lower than among those who did not undergo surgery. In other words, bariatric surgery performed with proper patient selection and an experienced team can significantly extend life expectancy even in individuals over the age of 60.
The results were also encouraging in terms of safety. The serious complication rate was reported as 7%, and the death rate within 30 days was only 2%. The average weight loss was around 22% of body weight. This rate reached 20% in sleeve gastrectomy and 25% in gastric bypass. The researchers emphasize that age alone is not a barrier to surgery. With a proper evaluation and the right choice of center, bariatric surgery can extend life expectancy even at an advanced age and can also contribute to the control of additional problems such as diabetes and heart diseases.
If you or a loved one is struggling with obesity at an advanced age, remember: age is just a number. A proper evaluation with an experienced specialist may be a new beginning that improves your quality of life.
References
The Lancet Healthy Longevity, “Metabolic and bariatric surgery in adults aged 69 years and older: a matched survival retrospective cohort study” (article number PIIS2666-7568(25)00091-1).
