Bariatric surgery numbers up significantly in Canada but annual figures still low

TORONTO – A new report says the number of bariatric surgeries in Canada rose by 300 per cent in recent years.

This type of surgery is used to help obese people lose weight by reducing the capacity of the stomach.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information says about 6,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in 2012-2013, up from 1,600 procedures in 2006-2007.

Women made up nearly four out of five people who got bariatric surgery in Canada, with the typical patient being a woman in her 40s with obesity and related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep disorders.

An obesity expert says that while the increase seems enormous, the number of such surgeries in Canada is still low.

And Dr. Yoni Freedhoff says that with the limitations that exist on the health-care system, bariatric surgery will not be the answer for most people who are dealing with obesity.

“We clearly will never have the capacity in Canada to help all of those who would qualify for bariatric surgery with bariatric surgery,” say Freedhoff, who noted that about one million Canadians meet the criteria for bariatric surgery eligibility.

“We are not going to cut this problem away.”