Teens Benefit From Bariatric Surgery, Regardless of Weight Loss

FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Remission of obesity-associated complications (OACs) is not dependent on major sustained weight loss in teens undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), according to a study published online Nov. 24 in Obesity.

S. Christopher Derderian, M.D., from University of Colorado at Aurora, and colleagues used data from the Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery to assess the relationship between weight loss and remission of OACs after MBS in adolescents. The analysis included adolescents with severe obesity who underwent MBS between 2007 and 2012 with five years of follow-up data. Lower weight-loss responders (LWLRs) were defined as having <20 percent total body weight loss (TBWL) and higher weight-loss responders (HWLRs) had ≥20 percent TBWL.

The researchers found that both LWLRs (114 adolescents) and HWLRs (78 adolescents) lost significant weight within the first year following MBS. However, TBWL at five years was 8.6 percent for the LWLRs and 33.8 percent for the HWLRs. At five years, HWLRs were more likely to experience durable remission of composite dyslipidemia. There were no differences in remission rates for all other OACs.

“In looking at the relationship between the extent of weight loss and health benefits obtained, it is clear that patients’ health improves regardless of whether or not they sustain high levels of weight loss long-term following surgery,” a coauthor said in a statement.

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.

Abstract/Full Text