Post-bariatric surgery weight loss studied

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. survey suggests bariatric surgery patients who follow their physician's recommendations after the surgery lose more weight than other patients.

The Harris Interactive survey of 409 post-bariatric bypass or gastric banding patients found those who said they most closely followed their doctor's suggestions lost more than 123 pounds during the first post-operative year, while those less compliant lost only 92 pounds, with that trend continuing up to five years.

Physician post-bariatric and gastric banding surgical recommendations include nutritional counseling and psychological support, exercising, attending patient support groups and changing eating habits. However, according to the survey, less than 47 percent of the patients participated in five or more of the post-surgical activities, and participation tended to decrease each year resulting in less weight loss or even weight gain.

"While bariatric and metabolic surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, weight loss and disease improvement or resolution can vary from patient to patient depending on what a patient does after surgery," said Dr. Phil Schauer, director of the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.

The survey was presented Tuesday in Washington during the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.