Bariatric Surgery Found To Improve Kidney Function

Bariatric Mexico Surgery, in Tijuana, Mexico, is highlighting a new study that demonstrates kidney function can also improve after bariatric surgery. BMS points out that it is a known fact that people who are obese have to deal with a number of associated health conditions, known as co-morbid disorders. It is now also known that many of these disorders improve or even completely disappear after successful bariatric surgery.

Alma Orozco from Bariatric Mexico Surgery says: "When people think about co-morbid disorders, they usually think about type 2 diabetes, which has been found to improve remarkably after bariatric surgery. However, new research has now also demonstrated just how important this surgery is for overall kidney function."

People who are obese are at an increased risk of developing CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), which is known as a silent disease. This is because the majority of people are asymptomatic until it progresses into chronic kidney failure. At that point, a liver transplant would be required. It is believed that over 10% of American adults currently has CKD, often without being aware of it.

Bariatric surgery helps to reverse the mechanisms that cause kidney problems in obese individuals. It is very rare for CKD to be a primary condition, instead usually being symptomatic of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, which are all, in turn, symptomatic of obesity. When obese people lose weight, their type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure usually improves or goes into full remission, as does CKD.

"This is a really important development," adds Alma Orozco. "CKD is a silent killer, but a killer nonetheless. Furthermore, 'curing' people from CKD is often impossible and requires a kidney transplant, which often fails. Therefore, by having bariatric surgery, they become a far smaller burden on the health systems and the organ transplant waiting list, as well as being happier and healthier in themselves."

One of the reasons why scientists were surprised about the positive effects of bariatric surgery on the kidneys is because many people who have had the surgery go on to develop kidney stones. It now seems, however, that this is of a temporary nature.