Bariatric surgery patients see voice improve as pounds drop, study finds

SIGNIFICANT weight loss through bariatric surgery not only brings about physical changes in individuals with obesity but may also influence vocal function, particularly in terms of vocal stamina, breath control and the ability to produce sound.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Prof Datuk Dr Marina Mat Baki said these changes are likely due to physiological factors, including better lung function, which is closely associated with the energy required for voice production and voice box health.

She said a preliminary study involving members of the public conducted by a UKM research team found that individuals with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery experienced a marked improvement in vocal stamina after losing weight.

"Vocal stamina refers to the length of time a person can sustain their voice in a single breath, and we found that this duration became noticeably longer following weight loss,” she told Bernama recently.

Dr Marina said the study also assessed participants’ lung function and found that the improvement may have contributed to better voice production.

"Lung function is crucial for voice production because the energy needed to produce sound comes from airflow.

"When lung function improves, the energy available for voice production also improves,” she said.

Meanwhile, UKM Faculty of Medicine lecturer and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dr Nadhirah Mohd Shakri, said significant weight loss following bariatric surgery could also affect fat composition and the elasticity of the structures surrounding the voice box.

She said individuals with obesity often have other risk factors, including reflux, sleep-related breathing disorders and excessive mucus production, all of which can affect voice quality.

"Obesity does not directly alter vocal frequency, but it is frequently associated with conditions such as reflux, which can lead to excessive mucus production and frequent throat clearing, causing the voice to become hoarser,” she said.

Dr Nadhirah said although substantial weight loss typically occurs within the first few months after bariatric surgery, reflux symptoms may still persist in some patients.

"Our findings showed that voice quality and vocal stamina began to improve as early as three months after surgery, even though some patients continued to experience reflux symptoms or showed reflux-related inflammation during endoscopic examinations.

"The improvements were also found to persist for at least six months after surgery.

"This suggests that weight loss can benefit vocal function through multiple mechanisms, including improved respiratory function and reduced pressure on the upper airway, even if reflux has not completely resolved,” she said.

However, she noted that the voice box requires time to adapt to the physiological changes following surgery, and the vocal recovery process may continue for several months before reaching a more stable state. - BERNAMA