Researchers have said that bariatric surgery, which is best known for its ability to help patients lose substantial weight, can also result in significant improvement in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Researchers at the University of South Florida-Tampa found that bariatric surgery resolved liver inflammation and reversed early-stage liver fibrosis, the thickening and scarring of liver tissue, by reducing fat deposits in the liver.
Michel Murr, MD, lead researcher of the study, professor of surgery and director of Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Bariatric Center, said their findings suggest that providers should consider bariatric surgery as the treatment of choice for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in severely obese patients.
Researchers compared liver biopsies from 152 patients - one at the time of the bariatric procedure and a second an average of 29 months afterwards.
In examining pre-operative biopsies, researchers identified patients with cellular-level manifestations of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, specifically, fat deposits and inflammation of the liver. These types of liver damage can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which can be life-threatening.
After reviewing post-operative biopsies, they found that bariatric surgery resulted in improvements for these patients. In the post-operative biopsies, researchers found that fat deposits on the liver resolved in 70 percent of patients. Inflammation was also improved, with lobular inflammation resolved in 74 percent of patients, chronic portal inflammation resolved in 32 percent, and steatohepatitis resolved in 88 percent.
In addition to these improvements, 62 percent of patients with stage two liver fibrosis had an improvement or resolution of the fibrosis. One of three patients with cirrhosis also showed improvement. Dr. Murr noted that these findings on fibrosis reversal apply only to early-stage fibrosis, and not late-stage liver disease.
For some people who are extremely obese with or suffer from diabetes, exercise and dieting isn't enough and they need to undergo surgery. Now weight loss surgery isn't advisable for everyone. According to bariatric surgeon Dr Ramen Goel, all these options are not an alternative to weight loss. He told TheHealthSite.com: 'People who believe that it is a short cut for weight loss are generally not the ones who need it. This is for people who have honestly tried to lose weight and tried various gyms, diets, have gone and have lost weight which keeps coming back.'
Who should opt for it?
The surgery isn't for everyone. Dr Goel told TheHealthSite.com, 'The procedure is advised for those patients who are at least 25-30 kg overweight with a BMI which is 32.5 or above. People with severe diabetes, hypertension or obstructive sleep apnoea associated with obesity are also likely candidates. Women who have irregular periods and are unable to conceive due to obesity can also opt for the surgery.' The surgery is also very effective for type 2 diabetics since it increases insulin resistance and helps control blood sugar. It's believed that around the 80% type 2 diabetics will go back to having normal blood sugar without medicinal intervention.
It's not for everyone!
Bariatric surgery shouldn't be performed on people who have an unstable heart condition or untreated angina. Other people who shouldn't undergo the procedure are those who're psychologically unstable, since they won't understand or appreciate the efforts you need to put in post-surgery. Read more on weight loss surgery
For weight loss:
Check out our healthy foods section and healthy recipes section for more ideas. Also check out these articles.
You could also try out these exercises for specific body parts:
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