[Skip to Navigation]
Sign In
Invited Commentary
March 6, 2019

Not All Weight Loss Created Equal

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu
JAMA Surg. 2019;154(5):e190067. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.0067

While we know that bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity, there are well-documented disparities between ethnic and income groups with regards to access and outcomes. Most studies agree that when comparing black patients with white patients, black patients have higher rates of complications and hospital utilization, with decreased resolution of comorbidities.1 Whether this is associated with genetics, socioeconomic factors, cultural differences, types of procedure performed, clinician bias, and/or insurer bias remains to be determined.

Add or change institution
×