Bariatric surgery may be a bad break for some

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Bariatric surgery may be a life-saving move for many people, but the procedure is not without risks. A recent study found that it could increase the risk of bone fractures.

Past studies have looked at the link between diets that restrict calories and decreased bone density. That lower density is due to bone turnover, when bones break down and form new ones at a fast pace, making bones more brittle.

In this study, presented recently at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C., researchers from the Mayo Clinic looked at medical records of 97 people (the majority women, average age 44) who had undergone bariatric surgery for medically complicated obesity from 1985 to 2004. Following surgery, there were 31 fractures reported in 21 patients.

When those injuries were compared with a similar group of people, the bariatric surgery patients were found to be 1.8 times likelier to have a first fracture anywhere on the body. Risk of hand fractures were three times greater and foot fractures four times greater than average.

Although researchers believe calcium and vitamin D supplements following surgery may help, they aren’t sure if it will significantly decrease the risk of fractures.

-- Jeannine Stein