Long-term weight loss after bariatric procedures for morbidly obese adolescents and youth: a single-institution analysis with up to 19-year follow-up

• Published in: Surgical endoscopy Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 2224 - 2238
• Main Authors: McClelland, Paul H., Kabata, Krystyna, Gorecki, Wojciech, Jano, Antalya, Zenilman, Michael E., Gorecki, Piotr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 2022 SAGES Oral; Abdominal Surgery; Adolescent; Body mass index; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrectomy - methods; Gastric Bypass - methods; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gastroplasty - methods; Gynecology; Hepatology; Humans; Laparoscopy - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - surgery; Pediatric Obesity - surgery; Proctology; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Surgical outcomes; Teenagers; Treatment Outcome; Weight control; Weight Loss; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; Adjustable gastric banding; Weight loss; Bariatric surgery; Sleeve gastrectomy
• ISSN: 0930-2794; 1432-2218
• DOI: 10.1007/s00464-022-09434-0

Background Obesity is a public health concern among adolescents and young adults. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and has been increasingly utilized in young patients. Long-term outcomes data for bariatric surgery in this age group are limited. Methods This is a single-institution, prospective analysis of 167 patients aged 15–24 years who underwent one of three laparoscopic bariatric procedures between 2001 and 2019: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB, n  = 71), adjustable gastric banding (LAGB, n  = 22), and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG, n  = 74). Longitudinal weight and body mass index (BMI) measurements were compared to evaluate patterns of weight loss. Results All operations were completed laparoscopically using the same clinical pathways. Patients were predominantly female (82.6%), had a median age of 22.0 [Q1-Q3 20.0–23.0] years, and had a mean presurgical BMI of 48.5 ± 6.5 kg/m 2 (range 38.4–68.1 kg/m 2 ). All procedures produced significant weight loss by 1 year, peak weight loss by 2 years, and modest weight regain after 5 years. Mean percent weight/BMI losses at 5 years for LRYGB, LAGB, and LSG were − 36.7 ± 10.8%, − 14.5 ± 15.3%, and − 25.1 ± 13.4%, respectively ( p  < 0.001). LRYGB patients were most likely to achieve ≥ 25% weight loss at 1, 3, and 5 years and maintained significant average weight loss for more than 15 years after surgery. Reoperations were procedure-specific, with LAGB, LRYGB, and LSG having the highest, middle, and lowest reoperation rates, respectively (40.9% vs. 16.9% vs. 5.4%, p  < 0.001). Conclusion All procedures provided significant and durable weight loss. LRYGB patients achieved the best and most sustained weight loss. LSG patients experienced second-best weight loss between 1 and 5 years, with lowest chance of reoperation. LAGB patients had the least weight loss and the highest reoperation rate. Compared to other factors, type of bariatric procedure was independently predictive of successful weight loss over time. More studies with long-term follow-up are needed. Graphical abstract