Metabolic and Psychological Features are Associated with Weight Loss 12 Months After Sleeve Gastrectomy

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a recognized effective procedure of bariatric surgery, but a poor response in weight loss may still represent a clinical problem. To date there are no validated predictors useful to better perform patient selection.

To establish the association of baseline anthropometric, metabolic, and psychologic features with the percent total weight loss (%TWL) and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) 12 months after surgery.

Retrospective longitudinal analysis of a set of data about obese patients attending the outpatient service of a single obesity center from June 2016 to June 2019.

A total of 106 obese patients underwent LSG with presurgery evaluation and follow-up at 12 months after surgery.

Weight loss 12 months after LSG.

Patients who achieved a %TWL higher than the observed median (≥34%) were younger, with a lower fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin, with a lower prevalence of hypertension and with a lower score in the impulsiveness scale, compared with patients with a %TWL < 34%. Similar findings were found when %EWL was considered. Multivariable stepwise regression analysis showed that younger age, lower impulsiveness, higher-than-normal urinary free cortisol, and lower HbA1c were associated with higher %TWL, explaining about 31.5% of the weight loss.

Metabolic and psychologic features at baseline were independently associated with weight loss and explained a non-negligible effect on the response to LSG. These data suggest that careful metabolic and psychologic profiling could help in sharper indications and personalized pre- and postsurgical follow-up protocols in candidates for LSG.