Weight Loss Surgery May Improve Incontinence, Study Says
Plano, TX, October 27, 2015 – Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of weight loss surgery on such conditions as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Few, however, have delved into the often uncomfortable topic of incontinence. New research is shedding light on this issue and the benefits bariatric surgery can deliver.
“Incontinence is a very common problem associated with obesity in men and women alike,” says Dr. Nick Nicholson, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas-based Nicholson Clinic, one of the top weight loss surgery centers in the country. “Losing weight can help alleviate the condition, but it’s been unclear if surgical weight loss had the same impact as other methods until now. Courtesy of a new study, we now have a body of evidence that shows surgical procedures can and do deliver relief for those suffering from weight-related incontinence.”
Dr. Nicholson was referencing a University of California San Francisco study that involved 2,000 people ages 18 to 78 who had all undergone bariatric surgery for weight loss. About 79 percent of the study participants were women. Of the women, an estimated 50 percent reported they had problems with incontinence at least weekly prior to surgery. An estimated fifth of the men reported similar experiences. Following surgery, participants reported marked improvements. Three years out from surgery a majority of those who suffered from regular incontinence reported being in remission entirely.
“The findings are very promising,” says Dr. Nicholson. “While incontinence isn’t generally the main complaint bariatric surgical patients seek to reverse, this side benefit of surgery can prove to be a big relief to patients. Considering weight loss surgery may also help people manage high blood pressure, diabetes and other weight-related conditions, the added benefit joins a list of important results.”
To find out more about the Nicholson Clinic, its locations and the services it provides, visit it online at www.nicholsonclinic.com.
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.
