Early weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy predicts midterm weight loss in morbidly obese Asians.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a popular bariatric procedure in morbidly obese Asians.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of initial weight loss on midterm weight maintenance and remission of co-morbidities after laparoscopic SG in morbidly obese Asians.

Setting: University Hospital, Singapore.

Methods: Data of patients who underwent laparoscopic SG were analyzed. Change in body mass index (BMI), percentage of total weight loss (%WL), and of excess weight loss (%EWL) was calculated and remission of obesity-related co-morbidities was examined. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of initial weight loss on successful weight maintenance. Receiver operative characteristic curve analysis was used to define optimal cutoff values.

Results: Two hundred and seventy-two patients were included in this study. Mean preoperative weight and BMI were 115.4±25.5 kg and 42.5±8.0 kg/m, respectively. Mean follow-up duration was 27.6±16.4 months. Successful weight loss of>50% EWL was achieved by 65.7%, 65.5%, and 50.8% of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years, postoperatively. There was a significant correlation of %EWL at 3 months with %EWL up to 3 years (P≤.005). Receiver operative characteristic analysis showed initial EWL of 35% at 3 months best predicted successful weight loss at 1 year (sensitivity 73.1%, specificity 81.4%). Patients achieving>35% EWL were significantly more likely to achieve remission of co-morbidities (P≤.005) at 1 year after surgery.

Conclusion: Early weight loss at 3 months predicts weight maintenance up to 3 years and remission of co-morbidities at 1 year after laparoscopic SG in Asians.