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Weight-loss surgery reduces heart disease risk

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, July 12, 2005

A new study shows that gastric bypass surgery reduces the risk of heart disease even more than previously believed.

The study from the Stanford University School of Medicine used three new tests that demonstrated improvements in all cardiac risk factors, according to a statement from the school.

Gastric bypass surgery, the most common form of weight-loss surgery, reduces stomach size and bypasses part of the small intestine to limit food intake and reduce nutrient absorption. About 141,000 of the surgeries were performed in 2004, up from 29,000 in 1999.

The study's lead author, Brandon Williams, MD, hopes that the study will encourage physicians to discuss the surgery with obese patients who are at risk of heart disease and push insurance companies who deny coverage of the procedure to change their policies, according to the release.

To view the release, click here.

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