Quality of life of obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery

The quality of life (QOL) of patients with morbid obesity (MO) is reduced given the restrictions it imposes. Bariatric surgery is considered an efficient treatment for MO as it leads to marked and progressive weight reduction. Weight loss, appropriate nutritional advice and follow up may induce significant improvement in QOL.

To evaluate the degree of QOL in patients with MO before and after bariatric, surgery (Fobi-Capella reducing gastroplasty). CASES.

95 morbidly obese(BMI > 40 kg/m2) or moderately obese (BNI 35 - 39 kg/m2) patients with co-morbidities were seen, followed up and given advice by the Nutrition, Psychology, Endocrinology and Surgery staff at the Federal University of Bahia Hospital. Group I included 66 subjects at the pre-surgical stage and Group II was composed of 29 other patients in a late postsurgical phase. Group II patients were seen at 6, 12 and more months after bariatric surgery. The medical outcomes study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was the instrument used to evaluate QOL in this study. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric method and the SPSS program.

A statistically significant improvement in QOL was detected in the aspects of general health, functional ability and vitality. A progressive improvement in physical conditioning was particularly observed in the patients who had had bariatric surgery less than 6 months before, between 6 and 12 months and more than 12 months before. Small changes in subjective features were seen. An improvement in social aspects was observed after a post surgical fall. This explains why do not changes appear when pre and post surgical patients are compared.

Fobi-Capella bariatric surgery for our patients with MO or with co-morbidities associated moderate obesity resulted in QOL improvement, and gradual but marked improvements in physical condition over time.