Marijuana use does not affect weight loss or complication rate after bariatric surgery

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Cannabinoid Research
• Obesity Medicine

Background:

• Marijuana legalization is increasing nationwide.
• The impact of marijuana use on bariatric surgery outcomes remains unclear.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if marijuana use affects weight loss after bariatric surgery.
• To assess if marijuana use is associated with higher complication rates post-bariatric surgery.
• To compare outcomes between marijuana users and non-users undergoing bariatric procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1107 patients undergoing bariatric surgery (July 2015-July 2020).
• Data abstracted on marijuana use, weight, and complications.
• Statistical evaluation using Wilcoxon Rank-Sum and Fisher Freeman Halton tests.

Main Results:

• Active marijuana users had higher pre-procedural BMIs (48.7 vs. 46.3, p=0.03).
• Overall complication rates were low and did not differ between groups.
• Weight loss was not significantly different between marijuana users and non-users (p=0.17).

Conclusions:

• Marijuana use was not associated with increased complications or reduced weight loss after bariatric surgery.
• The prevalence of marijuana use among bariatric surgery patients is increasing.
• Further research is needed to fully understand marijuana's effects in this population.