19 May 2025 • New data suggest bariatric surgery could deliver a dual benefit by lowering the incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and reducing the need for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in individuals with obesity.

Compared to matched obese patients without surgery, those who underwent bariatric surgery showed a 21-27% reduced risk of developing CRS over 2 to 10 years (RR 0.79 to RR 0.73).

Among patients with CRS, bariatric surgery halved the likelihood of requiring FESS up to 10 years post-operation (RR 0.50–0.56).

These findings highlight a potential added advantage of bariatric surgery in reducing long-term upper airway inflammation.

Source: WILEY | Read Full Story