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According to a latest research by Arizona State University researcher, people who undergo a bariatric surgery to treat obesity, apparently report an improved quality of life including better relationships and even medical conditions.

There are more than more than one-third of adults over the age 20 classified as obese in U.S.

Bariatric surgery can help dramatic weight loss in people. In some cases even 100 pounds or more.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, about 220,000 people underwent bariatric surgery in 2009 in the United States, up from about 13,300 procedures in 1998.

The researchers in the current paper aimed at examining how patients did after undergoing the surgery. For the study, they selected 213 participants ranging from age 26 to 73 years old, and collected their data for analysis.

 "We thought there would be more negative reactions to the surgery, but the response was very positive," said study co-author Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, an ASU School of Social and Family Dynamics professor in the press release. "Most people had improvements in chronic health problems."

The participants apparently reported improvements in diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol level, and sleep apnea, among others.

Respondents reported increased mobility and decreased depression as a positive aspect of the surgery. Among the participant, the average weight-loss was 95 pounds.

Those who had undergone the surgery to reduce negative reactions from friends and family reported better relationships after the surgery.

"This provides evidence that overcoming the stigma of being overweight, as reflected by negative reactions of others, can lead to greater satisfaction among relationships with family and friends, and in social life in general," said Doris A. Palmer, co-author of the paper and a doctoral student in the School of Social and Family Dynamics sociology program at ASU.

The study found that the satisfaction achieved by patients after a weight-loss surgery had more to do with how their life changed in different aspects and lesser about how they felt about their appearance.

"They were satisfied, but not as pleased about the way they looked as with other aspects of their lives," Kronenfeld said. "They may have hanging skin and those kinds of issues to deal with. It's not clear if most insurance companies will cover treatment of those issues since it may be considered cosmetic."

The participants were quizzed about various aspects pertaining to their physical health, self esteem, social life, work life, family life, mobility, and satisfaction with surgery results, Medical Xpress reported.

What made people opt for a weight-loss surgery, included reasons like decreasing health risks, improving appearance; boosting self esteem, etc.

Being more active after the surgery helped different people in different ways. While for some, it became possible to involve themselves more with their children in their activities, for some others, it was about overcoming the social stigma.

The researchers will present their findings at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.