Heart Bypass vs Gastric Bypass – an eyeopener

As well as creating our own content around the topic of obesity and life-changing treatment, we are constantly exploring others’ ideas and opinions. We discovered an article, A Sad Tale of 2 Bypass Surgeries, that has an interesting way of demonstrating the inequalities of healthcare systems and treatment options for those living with obesity. Treatment that would provide not only a longer life, but better quality of life.

Here’s a quick summary of the article: 

Operation C – More than 200,000 people have these surgeries done every year. Between one and three percent of patients die before they leave the hospital. Typically, they’ll spend a week in the hospital. Recovery usually takes between six weeks and three months.

Operation G – A fraction of those who could benefit – about 41,000 – have this procedure each year. It extends life and reduces the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, and certain cancers. It improves quality of life dramatically. Most patients stay in the hospital for only two or three days. Recovery typically takes three to five weeks. Deaths occur in less than 0.5 percent of patients in the first 30 days after the operation.

You’re asked to guess which procedure is which; “In case you haven’t guessed, Operation C is heart bypass…

The tale of these two bypass surgeries is sad indeed. Blame and shame get in the way of preventive care for obesity that could reduce the need for heart procedures down the road. Fear and a dysfunctional healthcare system lead people to wait until they feel their life is on the line. Then they have a costly and risky heart procedure that offers little or no benefit.” 

Obesity stigma

We’ve written quite a few blogs in the past about the stigma that people living with obesity deal with on a daily basis. 

• Weight stigma needs to stop
• Weight stigma and Weight Loss vs Lifestyle Change – Health at Every Size 
• Fat Shaming & Obesity Stigma – a deterrent to good health

The Sad Tale of 2 Bypass Surgeries summarises with a statement from Professor Caroline Apovian – “I think that the stigma of obesity rings clear here. Patients go in for procedures on their heart that are useless before they would have a procedure that would put their obesity into remission and help them live longer.”