Gene Test May Help Predict Success of Weight-Loss Surgery

Weight loss after gastric bypass surgery varies widely, and scientists say they have identified a genetic variation that may help explain the discrepancy. The discovery, detailed in a study published May 2 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, is already driving creation of a gene test that may one day help patients predict how many pounds they might shed after weight-loss surgery. Some patients lose 60 percent of their weight after the surgery, and others just 15 percent. Factors such as age, activity level and whether a patient has other health problems, such as diabetes, help doctors estimate a patient's potential results. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_136467.html