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Weight loss and quality of life after bariatric surgery: a study of 200 patients after vertical gastroplasty or adjustable gastric banding

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 1022–1030 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Background and objectives:

Long term evaluation of bariatric surgery must include quality of life measurement.

Methods:

Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the original Moorehead–Ardelt questionnaire for 200 patients operated for massive obesity in a single centre between 1994 and 2003. QoL and physical data were obtained by retrospective mail questionnaire. Surgical procedures were vertical-banded gastroplasty according to Mason (VBGM) and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) in 61 and 39% of patients, respectively. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional outcome and QoL according to the procedure.

Results:

Overall, the body mass index (BMI) decreased from 50±8 kg/m2 before surgery to 35.2±7.5 kg/m2 at the time of the questionnaire. The percentage of weight loss was 28.8±12.2%. In the group treated with VBGM, the mean initial weight (P=0.003) and the percentage of weight loss (P<0.001) were significantly higher, and the QoL was better (P=0.003) than in the group treated with AGB. On the basis of the time spent since surgery, a regular weight loss was observed during the first 5 years, whereas weight subsequently increased over the five following years. Similarly, the total QoL score gradually improved during the first 5 years and worsened thereafter. However, it remained better than before surgery. A linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between the percentage of weight loss and the QoL score (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

This study suggests that the bariatric surgery, particularly the VBGM technique, improved the QoL of obese patients, at least in the first 5 years following surgery.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Richard Medeiros, Rouen University Hospital medical editor, for his valuable advice in editing the manuscript. We also thank the staff of the departments for their help in the evaluation of patients’ charts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, IFR23-University Hospital of Rouen, Rouen, France

    V Folope & J-M Kuhn

  2. Biostatistics Unit, IFR23-University Hospital of Rouen, Rouen, France

    M-F Hellot

  3. Department of digestive tract surgery, IFR23-University Hospital of Rouen, Rouen, France

    P Ténière & M Scotté

  4. Nutrition Unit and ADEN EA3234, IFR23-University Hospital of Rouen, Rouen, France

    P Déchelotte

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  1. V Folope
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  2. M-F Hellot
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Correspondence to P Déchelotte.

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Folope, V., Hellot, MF., Kuhn, JM. et al. Weight loss and quality of life after bariatric surgery: a study of 200 patients after vertical gastroplasty or adjustable gastric banding. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 1022–1030 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602808

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