Between those who see it as "the magic solution" and those who see it as "unbearable risk", the truth sits in the published Saudi numbers.
The documented outcomes
A long-term Saudi cohort study found that percentage excess weight loss and percentage total weight loss peaked at three years: 72.4% and 75.8%, and that BMI fell by 34.7% — from an average of 45.5 to 29.7[1].
Metabolically, a study in western Saudi Arabia recorded reductions in HbA1c of about 23%, total cholesterol 32%, LDL 37% and triglycerides 29%, with HDL rising by about 19%[2].
three years
(45.5 → 29.7)
HbA1c
But awareness is low
A study of the Saudi public found that only 48.9% recognise the effectiveness of surgery for severe obesity, and 71.2% would not consider it — with misconceptions about risk, social stigma and cost remaining common barriers[3].
What should be clear
- It is not a substitute for nutrition: after surgery the quality of every bite matters more — the stomach is smaller, so there is no room for empty calories.
- Nutrient deficiency risk is real: iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium — lifelong monitoring (see iron deficiency).
- Protein is the top priority: to preserve muscle during rapid loss.
- It isn't for everyone who wants to lose 10 kg: there are clear medical criteria that the surgeon determines.