Weight Loss Surgery Can Improve Both Brain And Body

By Author: ricky ponting
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Obesity is known to have serious implications for the body, increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease, among other illnesses. Now, recent studies have found that clinical obesity may also affect cognitive functions, escalating the risk of developing memory disorders, like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Research shows that the more that older people weigh, the more likely they are to have a loss in cognitive abilities. The findings indicate that treatments for obesity that help individuals achieve a healthy weight can benefit their brains, as well as their bodies.
In one study, scientists at Boston University School of Medicine performed CT scans of the abdomen and MRI brain scans on more than 700 men and women who were an average age of 60. The study found that the more fat a person had around his or her midsection, the lower the person's brain volume.
Another study at the University of California-San Francisco found that in older women, obesity, high blood pressure and low levels of good cholesterol were associated with a 23 percent jump in risk for cognitive impairment.
What these findings ...
... indicate is that carrying excess weight affects all of your organs, including your brain, says Dr. David Provost, a specialist in gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric procedures.
Other studies have shown that obesity after age 55 increases the risk of dementia, and the effect on memory loss was greater in women who were pear-shaped and had excess weight around their hips. Research out of Northwestern University also found that for every one point increase in body mass index (BMI), women scored a full point lower on memory exams that were given to study participants.
Based on the new evidence, losing weight with weight loss surgery could not only benefit a person's physical health, but mental health, as well.
Weight loss surgery has proven to be effective in reducing the risk of numerous medical problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Provost, who is also the Medical Director of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton Weight Loss Surgery Program in Denton, Texas. He notes that patients who keeping their weight under control with weight loss can help to maintain brain health and function with aging, and could potentially lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia as they age.
Alzheimer's disease is progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and confusion. The condition affects more than five million Americans—primarily the elderly—and is the most common form of dementia. As the rate of obesity continues to rise in the U.S. as well as globally, medical practitioners may also see an increase in the number of overweight individuals suffering a loss of cognitive abilities.
In an interview with WebMD, William Thies, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer at the Alzheimer's Association, noted that maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check can also keep the brain healthy, and possibly reduce the risk for cognitive decline and dementia in old age. For obese individuals who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise programs, weight loss surgery may be the best treatment option.

The rate of obesity in America has doubled since 1970, and in the past 10 years the demand for gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric procedures has grown exponentially. As one of the nation's foremost bariatric surgeons, Denton weight loss surgery specialist Dr. David Provost has helped hundreds of patients overcome clinical obesity to improve their overall health.