Can Bariatric Surgery Lower Risk for Gout?
The Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery’s founder talks about this possible benefit.
Plano, TX, Nov. 08, 2016 – Bariatric surgery may provide people with a benefit that goes beyond sustained weight loss and a reduction of risks related to potentially life-limiting diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Researchers have found that bariatric surgery may also help prevent the development of gout.
It is currently estimated that about 4 percent of the American population suffers from gout. Often characterized as the most painful form of arthritis, this condition arises when uric acid builds up in the body, allowing crystal deposits to form in the joints. While gout has a number of triggers, including alcohol abuse, family history and poor diet, obesity has also been strongly linked to the condition’s development.
“A study that was recently released showed that bariatric surgery to address obesity can result in a significant decrease in risk for the development of this painful condition,” says Dr. Nick Nicholson, founder and lead surgeon at the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery. “The study focused on 4,000 obese patients who were followed over the course of 26 years. Those who underwent bariatric procedures, such as the gastric bypass, enjoyed a 34 percent reduction in gout risk.”
Acute gout is generally treated with medications that help reduce swelling and redness. Avoidance of alcohol and the consumption of a healthy, balanced diet may also help prevent the condition or alleviate the symptoms. As the study showed, bariatric surgery to address obesity may also provide a way to successfully prevent the condition.
“Obesity is strongly linked to a number of serious medical conditions,” says Dr. Nicholson. “More studies are showing that bariatric surgery can help lower risks for these conditions. In some cases, weight loss procedures can even reverse illnesses, as is the case for some type 2 diabetics.”
People who are obese are strongly urged to talk to their healthcare providers about all weight loss options. Bariatric surgery may provide a viable way to lose weight and keep it off while potentially offering major health benefits in the process.
The Nicholson Clinic specializes in surgical weight loss while providing other support to ensure patients attain and maintain their weight loss goals. To learn more about the Nicholson Clinic, its locations and the weight loss services it provides, visit it online at www.nicholsonclinic.com.
About Nicholson Clinic
Founded by Dr. Nick Nicholson, one of the country’s leading weight loss surgeons and co-author of “Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny,” the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery offers a variety of options to help patients gain control of their weight and their lives.
