Cigarette smoking and its impact on weight loss after bariatric surgery: A single center, retrospective study

Smoking cessation is often associated with weight gain. This study was conducted to verify whether it affects outcomes of bariatric surgery.

To present cigarette consumption among patients after bariatric surgery in a long-term follow-up and to evaluate whether smoking cessation impacts weight loss.

High-volume bariatric center, Military Hospital, Poland.

We collected data of patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 2003 and 2009. The data included sex, age, weight, body mass index, and smoking habits. An online survey regarding current weight, co-morbidities, and smoking was distributed. Percentage excess weight loss was calculated with an ideal weight for body mass index of 25 kg/m².

One hundred seven patients had laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding between 2003 and 2006; 47 were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 11.2 (±1.2). Of patients, 51% (n = 24) were smokers before surgery. In the follow-up 43% (n = 20) were smokers, of whom 4 patients began smoking after surgery. Twenty-seven patients were nonsmokers, 8 of whom quit over the years (33% of previous smokers). One hundred twenty-seven underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between 2006 and 2009; 84 were included in the study. Our median follow-up was 8.0 years. Thirty-two patients never smoked; 52 were smoking before surgery, yet 24 successfully quit. In both groups there were no statistically significant differences in percentage excess weight loss between smokers and nonsmokers, or between those who quit and did not.

In the long-term follow-up after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, 33% of smokers quit and 17% previously nonsmoking began smoking. After laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, 46% of previously smoking patients successfully quit. Smoking status was not significantly associated with weight loss.