New research has shown that a type of weight-loss surgery called Roux-en-Y which removes a large part of the stomach resulted in dramatic increases in deaths from alcohol and drugs. This appears to relate to the fact that the body processes drugs and alcohol differently after these surgeries rendering them more lethal. Preliminary data indicates that other types of weight loss surgery including gastric sleeve may also be dangerous. While weight loss surgery is effective for many patients who have been unable to lose weight through decreased consumption it points out the medical truism that lifestyle changes – decreased food intake in this case - are always better and safer than drugs or surgery. I have written previously that intermittent fasting for example has been shown to be effective for many patients who otherwise had difficulty losing weight and maybe an alternative worth trying for those considering weight loss surgery.
