Early Weight Loss after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Predicts Sustained Weight Maintenance Among Chinese Individuals with a BMI < 35 kg/m2.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Chinese individuals with a body mass index (BMI) under 35 kg/m2 and to explore the association between early weight loss and sustained weight maintenance. METHODS: Patients whose BMI < 35 kg/m2 were recruited. Changes in BMI, total weight loss (%TWL), and excess weight loss (%EWL) were evaluated, with successful weight loss being a %EWL of > 50% and a %TWL of > 25%. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess relationships between %EWL and %TWL and to calculate a joint predictor. The association between early weight loss and sustained weight maintenance was assessed as a function of %EWL, %TWL, and this joint predictor, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves being used for optimal cutoff threshold identification. RESULTS: In total, 143 individuals with average preoperative weight and BMI values of 88 (82, 95) kg and 31.99 (29.41, 33.15) kg/m2, respectively, were enrolled in present study. At 5 years, 48.00% of patients achieved successful weight loss. Both 3-month %EWL and %TWL were significantly related to sustained weight loss at 5 years (P < 0.05). ROC curves were used to identify %TWL of 19.54% at 3 months as the most reliable predictor of weight loss at a 5-year follow-up (sensitivity: 61.11%, specificity: 76.92%). CONCLUSION: LSG had long-term safety and efficacy, and %TWL at 3 months can predict sustained 5-year weight loss in Chinese individuals with BMI < 35 kg/m2.