For people who are morbidly obese with co-existing medical problems such as diabetes, sleep apnea, liver inflammation, cardiopulmonary vascular disease, degenerative joint disease, loss of vein function and other conditions, JSAPA Weight Loss Surgery is an effective long-term treatment. Now, according to an October Archives of Surgery report, morbidly obese high-risk people who lose five to 10 percent of their body weight before undergoing bariatric surgery seem to have faster post-operative weight loss and a shorter hospital duration immediately following the surgical procedure.

In a study conducted between 2002 and 2006, researchers at Geisinger Health System assessed 884 patients, with an average age of 45, who had underwent bariatric surgery consisting of open or laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Prior to surgery, participants were required to participate in medical, nutritional, and psychological education programs. Participants were also urges to lose 10 percent of their body weight prior to surgery.

Of the 884 patients, 19 percent (169) lost between five and 10 percent of their excess weight before their operation, and 48 percent lost 10 percent of their excess weight preceding surgery.

The results of the study showed that the patients who lost more than five percent of their excess weight before bariatric surgery, were less likely to have a hospital stay longer than four days. Moreover, patients who lost 10 percent of their excess weight before weight loss surgery were two times as likely to have achieved 70 percent of their weight loss goal one year following surgery when compared to those who only lost up to five percent of their excess weight prior to their bariatric operation.