Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which is accountable for around 90-95% of diabetes cases in the US. But a new study claims that for obese individuals, weight loss surgery may dramatically reduce this risk.

Share on Pinterest Weight loss surgery may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals by 80%, according to the researchers.

The research team, including Prof. Martin Gulliford of King’s College London in the UK, publish their findings in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Past studies have indicated that weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, may be an effective strategy to treat type 2 diabetes in obese patients. But Prof. Gulliford and colleagues note there have been very few studies looking at whether weight loss surgery can prevent the development of diabetes in obese patients. For their study, the team wanted to find out.

They analyzed health records from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink and identified 2,167 obese adults without diabetes who had undergone one of three surgical procedures: gastric bypass, gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy.

Gastric bypass, which involves redirecting the digestive system past the stomach, is the most common weight loss procedure. Gastric banding involves having an inflatable band placed around the top portion of the stomach, creating a smaller stomach, while sleeve gastrectomy involves removal of around 80% of the stomach.

To act as controls, the team also identified 2,167 obese individuals – matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and blood sugar levels – who had not undergone weight loss surgery or had any other obesity-related treatments. Participants were followed for up to 7 years.