Weight Loss Surgery: How It Can Slow Down Aging

It’s no secret that weight loss surgeries provide abundant benefits to one’s health. But, if you have had surgery to lose weight or you’re planning to, you may be surprised with some life-changing benefits you hadn’t even anticipated. Studies now tell us that weight-loss surgeries can not only make you feel younger but could even reverse aging.

Most people have heard about the mythical ‘Fountain of Youth’, the magical spring which could restore the youth of those that drank or bathed in its water. But of course, no such magical place actually exists, and up until recently most would say that it’s impossible to restore someone’s youth in any type of physical way—yet science may prove otherwise. 

How Can Weight Loss Surgery Reverse Signs of Aging?

It may sound crazy, but the human body is not to be underestimated for what it’s capable of doing. Scientific studies have found that weight loss has been linked to significant genetic changes in the body. The human body contains a type of genetic material that acts as a protective cap on the end of a DNA strand—these caps are called telomeres. Telomeres are considered a biomarker of the aging process. As we age, telomeres shorten with each division of cells. Obesity adds to their shortening as it stresses our cells, causing telomeres to shorten at a faster rate. The progressive shortening of telomeres affects the health and lifespan of the individual. Furthermore, shorter telomeres have been associated with various age-related diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer becomes a high risk. 

Recent studies have revealed that in certain patients, especially those at higher risk for disease, their telomeres grew a small percentage in length after undergoing weight loss surgery.  That slight gain in length, likely due to improved cellular health, is significant enough for those patients to likely notice an improvement in their appearance; brighter eyes, a healthy glow to their skin, and their energy levels would be improved thanks to their weight loss surgery. This discovery that telomeres could potentially regain length after bariatric surgery was a surprising and exciting find that will invite more research about weight-loss surgeries and their anticipated positive effects on genetics.

Bariatric Surgery Can Turn Back the Clock

Not only does excess weight increase the risk of many diseases and ailments, but it also accelerates the aging process of the body. Each time a cell divides, the telomere is shortened until it eventually reduces so much that the cell stops dividing. While cell death doesn’t mean that the person will also die, the shortening of the telomere is a biological indicator of the damage and stress that are going on inside of the body.

One large study showed that the difference in biological health between two people of the same age with drastically different BMI scores corresponds to about 8.8 years. For someone with excess weight, their chromosomal clock is ticking much faster. Whether younger or older, the mental stress and physical discomfort that accompanies excess weight slows us down and holds us back from feeling our best.  Weight loss surgeries help people tackle the looming threats of serious diseases and regain control over their health in a serious way. As a result, weight-loss surgeries can lead to having peace of mind, healthier habits, and a healthier mind. Alsol, weight loss surgeries offer many the hand they need to feel like themselves again. 

You’re Only as Old as You Feel

Though there is still no “magic bullet” miracle cure such as the fountain of youth, the human body is a remarkable machine capable of extraordinary things — which we are still discovering today. For some, weight loss surgery is an opportunity to mitigate many scary health concerns, and to feel better physically and emotionally. For most, weight loss is a difficult and uphill battle, and while many more people are turning towards surgeries to lose weight, the process should not be viewed as an easy solution, but a tool to utilize towards the overall success of leading a healthy and happy life. 

Looking and feeling younger is only one of the many reasons to consider if weight loss surgery is right for you. To learn more and take your first steps towards the lifestyle you deserve, click here.