Weight loss surgery may harm bone health, says study

Los Angeles: Weight loss surgery can cause declines in bone mass and strength, and increase the risk of fractures, a study has found. According to the review published in the journal JBMR Plus, skeletal changes after surgery appear early and continue even after weight loss plateaus and weight stabilises.

"Current clinical guidelines do address bone health, but most recommendations are based on low-quality evidence or expert opinion," said Anne Schafer from the University of California, San Francisco in the US. Nutritional factors, mechanical unloading, hormonal factors, and changes in body composition and bone marrow fat may contribute to poor bone health. Most studies have examined the effects of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, which was the most commonly performed weight loss procedure worldwide until it was very recently overtaken by sleeve gastrectomy. Because sleeve gastrectomy is a newer procedure, its skeletal effects have not yet been well defined, researchers said. The reviews findings indicate that clinical guidelines on weight loss surgery should address bone health as a priority. "Future studies should address strategies to avoid long-term skeletal consequences of these otherwise beneficial procedures," Schafer said.