WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they've found bariatric surgery causes complications for about 40 percent of patients who undergo the weight-loss operation.
The study by a unit of the U.S. Public Health Service found the number of bariatric procedures performed annually has been increasing, along with the incidence of obesity that affects 30 percent of all U.S. adults, The New York Times reported.
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, told the newspaper although bariatric surgery helps people lose weight and reduce their risk of diabetes and other diseases, "This study shows how important it is for patients to consider the potential complications."
Bariatric complications include vomiting, diarrhea, infections and pneumonia.
The most common of the three types of bariatric surgery is gastric bypass, or Roux-en-y gastric bypass, WebMD.com said. During that procedure the size of the stomach is reduced by about 95 percent and a small portion of the upper intestinal tract is bypassed. The results in the patient feeling full with a small amount of food and the body's calorie absorption is decreased.
