"Bottom Line Obese patients who underwent weightloss surgery had a lower rate of death from any cause compared with obese adults who received nonsurgical care to manage their obesity. Why The Research Is Interesting Much is known about the shortterm outcomes of bariatric surgery for weight loss but relatively little is known about its longterm effects. Some previous research has been limited by a number of factors including the lack of a comparison group of obese patients who did not undergo bariatric surgery. Who and When  obese patients in Israel who underwent bariatric surgery laparoscopic banding RouxenY gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from   obese patients who received nonsurgical care for obesity management from primary care physicians that may have included dietary counseling and behavior modification. What Study Measures Bariatric surgery exposure death from any cause outcome How Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study that used data from the past to compare obese patients who had bariatric surgery with those who didnt and death from any cause. The study is observational. Because researchers are not intervening for purposes of the study they cannot control for all the natural differences that could explain study findings. Authors Orna Reges Ph.D. Clalit Health Services Tel Aviv Israel and coauthors Results The rate of death from any cause over about . years was lower among obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery compared with patients who managed their obesity with nonsurgical care. Study Limitations Imbalances caused by matching groups of obese patients for comparison based on age sex body mass index and diagnoses of diabetes. Study Conclusions The association between bariatric surgery and a lower rate of death from any cause adds to the limited literature describing the beneficial outcomes of these surgical procedures for obese patients.  Related material The following related elements from this issue of JAMA are also available on the For The Media website httpmedia.jamanetwork.com  Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic RouxenY Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss at  Years Among Patients With Morbid Obesity  Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic RouxenY Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss in Patients With Morbid Obesity  Lifestyle Intervention and Medical Management With vs Without RouxenY Gastric Bypass and Control of Hemoglobin Ac LDL Cholesterol and Systolic Blood Pressure at  Years in the Diabetes Surgery Study  Association of Bariatric Surgery vs Medical Obesity Treatment With Longterm Medical Complications and ObesityRelated Comorbidities  Editorial Comparing the Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy and RouxenY Gastric Bypass for Severe Obesity  Editorial Reimagining Obesity in   A JAMA Theme Issue on Obesity For more details and to read the full study please visit the For The Media website httpmedia.jamanetwork.com. doi.jama.. Editors Note Please see the article for additional information including other authors author contributions and affiliations financial disclosures funding and support etc. Want to embed a link to this report in your story Link will be live at the embargo time httpjamanetwork.comjournalsjamafullarticle.jama.. Disclaimer AAAS and EurekAlert are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system."