Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery is not a pre-requisite of excess weight loss outcomes in obese patients.

BACKGROUND

Although weight loss before bariatric surgery may carry advantages during the surgical procedure (decreased liver volume, operation duration, and blood loss), it is still debated whether it induces a greater long-term weight loss.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis over 539 patients operated by the same surgeon until September 2008. Five hundred seven primary bariatric surgical procedures were performed: gastric bypass in 381, gastric banding in 97, and sleeve gastrectomy in 29. Preoperative multidisciplinary care was similar for all the patients over a period of 12 months. Relationship between weight changes during this period and the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) over the 48 month after surgery was analyzed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

No relationship could be evidenced between pre- and postoperative weight loss, regardless of the surgical technique performed. Whether patients were male or female, and whether they had an initial BMI greater or lower than 50 kg/m(2), did not make a difference in the relationship between EWL at any point and weight loss prior to surgery. Despite a large range of weight changes before surgery, there was no trend for a relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that weight loss before surgery should not be considered a pre-requisite. Although it can reduce the difficulties of the surgical procedure, advantages for long-term weight loss are not validated.