Evaluation of weight loss and quality of life in long-term post-bariatric surgery

Abstract

Aim: Obesity is a chronic disease that can lead to many consequences and is directly related to the development of other non-communicable chronic diseases. Since medical treatment for this comorbidity does not always yield satisfactory results, bariatric surgery ends up being the best option for many cases. Thus, the present study aims to analyze long-term weight loss in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, compare weight loss according to the surgical technique performed, and assess the quality of life of patients in the long-term postoperative period. Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study analyzing a pre-existing database along with new data collected through telephone interviews according to the modified Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) questionnaire. Medical records for those who underwent the procedure within the specified period were analyzed. Results: Records for a total of 208 patients were analyzed, of whom 181 underwent the Bypass surgical technique and 27 underwent the Sleeve technique. Based on the BAROS score, the majority of patients (64.9%) had a "good" or "very good" outcome. Regarding weight loss, 70.68% of the interviewed patients lost over 50% of weight, with this loss occurring in 74.58% of those who underwent Bypass and 44.44% of those who underwent Sleeve. Additionally, 95.2% of respondents reported feeling “better” or “much better” after surgery. Conclusion: Our results indicate that bariatric surgery is effective both in long-term weight loss and in improving the quality of life of patients. Meanwhile, our study suggests that the BAROS questionnaire may be insufficient to assess long-term quality of life.