Evidence has also shown that women who undergo bariatric surgery before becoming pregnant are less likely to have children that become obese. According to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the intrauterine environment is crucial in a child's development, and after bariatric surgery, a woman's uterus is less likely to contain substances within the amniotic fluid that can contribute to a child's likelihood of becoming obese.

The study observed 49 mothers who had children both before and after surgery, as well as their 111 children, who were between the ages of 2.5 and 25. Children born after the mother's weight loss surgery had lower birth weights and were three times less likely to become obese than children born before the mother's surgery. Children born after surgery also had better blood sugar resistance and lower cholesterol.

"Bariatric surgery has effects far beyond simply helping a patient lose weight, and some of the changes in their bodies can be life-altering," Dr. Still said. "The changes that women go through can lessen the likelihood that they have a child who will become obese, presenting another way that bariatric surgery can help break the cycle of obesity."

Source: Geisinger Health System