Reduction in weight and BMI and changes in Co-morbidities following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for morbidly obese patients in Bahrain: a five year longitudinal study.

Background: Obesity and its related illnesses are pan-endemic health problems which require intervention. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) is seen as a safe surgical procedure with satisfactory results on weight reduction and improvement in obesity related illness.

Methods: Data were collected in a repeated-measures longitudinal five year study for 143 morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Follow up was continued from 3 to 60 months post operatively. Patients were assessed for diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Results: Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that both men and women lose weight and reduce their BMIs at a consistent rate. At 3, 6 and 9 months post-operative there are no differences in percent weight loss between men and women with mean weight loss at 8.9%, 13.1% and 16.0% respectively of pre-operative weight. At 12, 24 and 60 months post-operatively, however, men significantly increase the percentage of weight loss as well as improve their BMI compared to women (p < .05). At 24 months post-operative, men and women have BMIs of 36.03 and 32.85, both still in the obese range. By 60 months men have achieved a BMI that is slightly under the obese range into the overweight range (30.76) while women (BMI = 36.61) were still in the obese range. At 60 months, men have lost a total of 33.75% of their pre-operative body weight while women have lost a total of 21.50. Diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were significantly reduced in the sample post-operatively (p < .01).

Conclusion: LAGB is a safe and effective surgical procedure for morbidly obese patients resulting in weight loss, BMI decrease and reduction in co-morbid illnesses.