Gastric bypass: a family affair--41 families in which multiple members underwent bariatric surgery.

Background: The effects of multiple family members undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are unknown. The objective of our study was to evaluate RYGB in multiple-patient families compared with case-matched controls.

Methods: A total of 91 RYGB patients (family group) from 41 families with ≥ 2 bariatric surgeries were compared with 91 other RYGB patients (controls), case-matched by gender, age (± 5 yr), and body mass index (± 5 kg/m(2)).

Results: Of the 91 patients in the family group, 16 (18%) were men and 75 (82%) were women. The family groups included siblings (n = 20), father/adult offspring (n = 2), mother/adult offspring (n = 17), aunt or uncle/niece or nephew (n = 7), spouses (n = 12), cousins (n = 2), grandmother/granddaughter (n = 1), and in-laws (n = 3). Six families had 3 RYGB patients, and one family had 5. Incisional hernia occurred in 17% of the family group and 24% of the control group. The office follow-up duration was 6 months for 89% and 83% and 1 year for 83.5% and 58% of the family and control groups, respectively (P < .01). The percentage of excess weight lost (%EWL) was 58% ± 18% and 49% ± 15% at 6 months and 76% ± 18% and 62% ± 19% at 1 year in the family and control groups, respectively (P < .001). The %EWL was >80% in 45% of the family group versus in 19% of the controls (P < .01). The body mass index at 1 year was 31 ± 7 kg/m(2) in the family group and 35 ± 8 kg/m(2) in the controls (P < .05). Among the family group siblings, the 1-year %EWL was 81% ± 18% versus 60% ± 17% in the matched control patients (P < .0001).

Conclusion: The post-RYGB weight loss and follow-up were increased among the family patients versus the case-matched control patients. The %EWL was greatest among the family siblings. The results linked family ties and follow-up compliance with the %EWL.