Cross-Sectional Differences in BMI, Sarcopenia Risk, and Quality of Life During the First Postoperative Year...

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) effectively reduces body mass index (BMI); however, rapid postoperative weight loss may result in skeletal muscle loss and transiently impair health-related quality of life (QoL). Concurrent data on these three outcomes across the first postoperative year remain limited, particularly in the southern United States.

This exploratory cross-sectional study enrolled 55 patients (aged 30-50 years; preoperative BMI 30-45 kg/m²) who underwent SG at healthcare facilities across Texas and were stratified by postoperative interval: 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 months. Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire (threshold ≥ 4), and QoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5 L with the United States value set. Nonparametric methods included the Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn post-hoc correction.

Median BMI decreased significantly from 40.8 to 29.2 kg/m² (Wilcoxon Z = - 6.45, r = .87, p < .001). Sarcopenia risk was markedly lower in patients assessed at 9-12 months (35.3%) than in those assessed at 3-6 months (90.5%) (p < .001). The QoL index was higher in the 9-12-month group (0.90) than in the 3-6-month group (0.84) (p < .001). Moderate to extreme pain and discomfort was reported by 38.1% of patients in the 3-6-month group versus 0.0% in the 9-12-month group. Middle-aged patients demonstrated significantly higher sarcopenia burden (r = .591) and lower QoL (r = .446) compared with early adults.

BMI, sarcopenia risk, and QoL differed favorably across groups assessed later in the first postoperative year. The high sarcopenia risk observed in patients early in the postoperative course supports routine SARC-F screening from 3 months postoperatively and phase-specific rehabilitation. Future longitudinal studies with objective body composition assessments are warranted.