"A study looked at the effects of weightloss surgery on obese women most at risk for cancer. It found that bariatric surgery   slashed participants weight by a third   produced a mean weight loss of more than  pounds   eliminated precancerous uterine growths   improved physical quality of life   improved insulin levels and glucose use   altered the composition of gut bacteria CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. Oct.    A study evaluating the effects of bariatric surgery on obese women most at risk for cancer has found that the weightloss surgery slashed participants weight by a third and eliminated precancerous uterine growths in those that had them. Other effects included improving patients physical quality of life improving their insulin levels and ability to use glucose  which may reduce their risk for diabetes  and even altering the composition of their gut bacteria. The study speaks both to the benefits of bariatric surgery and to the tremendous toll obesity takes on health. If you look at cancers in women about a fifth of all cancer deaths would be prevented if we had women at normal body weight in the U.S. said Susan C. Modesitt MD of the University of Virginia Cancer Center. When youre looking at obesityrelated cancers the biggest one is endometrial cancer but also colon cancer breast cancer renal cancer and gall bladder cancer. We think about  percent to  percent of all endometrial cancer which is in the lining of the uterus is caused by obesity. Effects of Obesity and Morbid Obesity  The study looked at  women with a mean age of . years and a mean body mass index BMI of .. Women are considered obese at a BMI of  and morbidly obese at  which is typically about  pounds over a womans ideal body weight yet almost a third of women presenting for bariatric surgery did not identify themselves as obese. The study looked at the effects of bariatric surgery in a relatively short timeframe one to three years after surgery. A total of  participants underwent the procedure two opted out of the surgery and another died of a heart condition prior to surgery. The effects of surgery on body weight were dramatic Mean weight loss was more than  pounds. Preventing Cancer  Ten percent of study participants who had not had a hysterectomy showed precancerous changes in the lining of the uterus and all of those resolved with weight loss. Were talking about small numbers really tiny numbers of study participants Modesitt said noting one limitation of the study. So I could never say that effect is definitive but it is suggestive given that we know already the incredibly strong link between endometrial cancer and obesity. Modesitt of the UVAs Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was most surprised by the dramatic changes seen in the patients metabolic profiles derived from the gut microbiome the population of microorganisms living inside us. The study results demonstrate that there is a huge alteration but I dont even know what to say about that except it is really new and intriguing area to look at in the link between obesity and cancer. For example before groundbreaking work by Dr. John Marshall at UVA in the past no one knew that ulcers were from bacteria. Who knows what role the gut bacteria play in promoting obesity but metabolic parametermarkers of the bacteria definitely changed after study participants lost weight. While the study speaks to the transformative effect bariatric surgery can have Modesitt urged people to avoid gaining weight in the first place and for those seeking to lose weight to exercise and eat more healthily before turning to surgery. We really should be working on diet and exercise from the getgo in our entire society starting with our children. And exercise does seem to be protective  even if you dont lose all the weight it absolutely has beneficial effects she said. There are lots of studies showing if you exercise it improves your insulin your glucose all of those sorts of things that go along with the cancercausing effect. Almost everybody agrees adding exercise would be wonderful and improve health on many levels. But losing excess weight would also be good.  Findings Published  The findings have been published as a lead article in the scientific journal Gynecologic Oncology. The article was written by Modesitt Peter T. Hallowell Jill K. SlackDavis Ryan D. Michalek Kristen A. Atkins Sarah L. Kelley Sanja Arapovic Margaret A. Shupnik and Kyle Hoehn."