The effect of weight loss and exercise on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) following Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies (EBT) for obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBT) have demonstrated to induce weight loss and improve comorbidities in obese patients. However, little is known about its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and physical activity status. This study aimed to evaluate the change in HRQOL and physical activity following EBT induced weight loss in obese patients. METHODS: We approached 181 patients who underwent EBT in a standardized multidisciplinary follow-up program to participate in the study. We provided them two questionnaires-a) Short Form-36 health survey with the physical (PSC) and mental (MSC) summary component scores to capture generic HRQOL, and b) international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) for physical activity (PA). We administered the survey at baseline and at 9 months post-procedure. We expressed the procedure outcome as percentage total body weight loss (%TBWL). We expressed continuous variables as mean (SD) or median and categorical variables as percentages. We used non-parametric tests for comparison and performed multivariable linear regression analysis to identify factors associated with improvement in HRQOL. RESULTS: The mean age was 42.2 (11.3) years, and the mean BMI was 38 (5.9)kg/m2. A majority of them were female (n-132, 73%). The EBT included intragastric balloons (n-136, 75%) and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (n-24, 25%). The mean %TBWL achieved after the intervention was 16.9 (9.7)%. We noticed a significant improvement in the median PSC (77.8 vs. 90.4, p < 0.001) and MSC (67 vs. 80.2, p < 0.001) scores after EBT. Similarly, we observed a significant positive change in physical activity compared to baseline (1606.2 vs. 2749 MET-minutes/week, p = < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed an increase in %TBWL was associated with significant improvement in PSC (ß = 0.193, p = 0.003) and MSC (ß = 0.166, p = 0.02) scores of HRQOL, and likewise, increase in PA was independently associated with improvement in MSC (ß = 0.192, p = 0.01). We did not find any difference in outcome based on gender or the type of intervention. CONCLUSION: EBT improves HRQOL in obese patients regardless of the type of intervention. The weight loss induced by EBT and the improvement in PA positively influence the health outcomes and quality of life.

Decreased emotional eating behavior is associated with greater excess weight loss five years after gastric banding.

While significant weight loss has been observed in the first two years following adjustable gastric banding (AGB), research on the long-term effectiveness of gastric restriction (e.g., 5 years) both on weight loss and eating behavior changes is scarce. The present study examined obese patients' changes in eating behavior preoperatively and 5 years after AGB and examined their associations with excess weight loss (EWL). Specifically, we focused on the association between the modification of three eating behavior profiles (i.e., restrained eating, emotional eating and external eating) and %EWL at 5 years. Among the 197 participants who underwent AGB, 136 completed the clinical assessments (weight, depression with the BDI, eating behavior with the DEBQ) before surgery, and after 5 years. Resultsshowed that the mean percentage of EWL was 47% after 5 years. Moreover, patients reported lower emotional eating and external eating after 5 years in comparison to the baseline, whereas there were no differences concerning restrained eating. Importantly, patients who presented higher %EWL at 5 years also reported a greater decrease in emotional eating between the two sessions than those with low %EWL. Our study underlines that eating behaviors are major variables involved in weight loss after gastric restriction. Results showed that emotional and external eating decreased significantly at 5 years whereas restrained eating behaviors did not vary between the pre- and postoperative stages. Moreover, the data suggest that a decrease in emotional eating accounts for the extent of EWL.

Preliminary evidence that endoscopic gastroplication reduces food reward.

Morbidly obese patients are most successfully treated with bariatric surgery. Although restrictive gastric surgery physically limits food intake, it is also suggested that eating behavior and food-reward mechanisms are affected. Therefore, eating behavior and food-reward were assessed in ten patients that underwent gastric volume reduction by endoscopic gastroplication. Patients participated in test days before and one, three and twelve months after the procedure. Weight loss, food intake, appetite, gastric emptying rate, food-reward (i.e. liking and wanting) and eating behavior were assessed. Body mass index decreased from 38.3 (37.6-42.6) to 33.9 (31.0-35.9) kg/m2 after one year. Ad libitum food intake decreased significantly after one month, but not after one year. Gastric emptying rate did not change. AUC of VAS scores for desire to eat, quantity, fullness, hunger, snacking and satiety changed after one month, but not all remained significantly changed after one year. Thirst did not change. Liking scores of food items decreased significantly in the fasted as well as the satiated state after the procedure. Wanting scores did not change. Uncontrolled eating decreased significantly after three and twelve months; emotional eating was only significantly decreased after three months. The results show that food intake decreases, while VAS scores for appetite and eating behavior change accordingly. Liking, but not wanting of food items changed to benefit the weight losing patient. The effects were stronger at one-month follow-up than at 12 months, which may be a risk of relapse after initial successful weight loss. The effects of new bariatric procedures on food-reward should be studied in future randomized trials to further elucidate their impact. REGISTERED AT CLINICALTRIALS. GOV: NCT02381340.

"It just made me feel so desolate": Patients' narratives of weight gain following laparoscopic insertion of a gastric band.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the experiences of patients who have failed to maintain weight loss following the insertion of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) for the treatment of morbid obesity. BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global health problem resulting in physical, psychological and economic problems and presenting challenges for health services. Surgical intervention is an increasingly common approach to treatment; however, some patients do not sustain their weight loss following bariatric surgery and little is known about people's longer-term experiences following LAGB insertion. DESIGN: A narrative-based qualitative interview study. METHODS: A purposive sample of ten participants who had undergone LAGB insertion for morbid obesity was recruited. Semistructured interviews were conducted in 2014. Thematic analysis identified codes and emerging themes common to the participants' experiences. FINDINGS: Three major themes emerged: living with the side effects, regret and lack of support. These reflect the difficulties participants experienced and provide new insights on why weight loss is not sustained after 2 years following surgery. CONCLUSION: Participants reported that the surgery had a detrimental effect on their lives and some regretted having the band inserted. These findings identify areas of care that need to be addressed if patients undergoing LAGB are to experience its potential benefits and indicate that further research is needed into the long-term effects of gastric band insertion. Patients need to be better informed about the consequences of bariatric surgery if it is to have a lasting impact on their weight reduction. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients require comprehensive information and support before and after LAGB insertion to develop strategies which will help them lose weight and sustain it over the longer term. Clinicians need to be sensitive to patients' needs when weight loss plateaus or weight is regained and intensify support during these periods.

Obese patients after gastric bypass surgery have lower brain-hedonic responses to food than after gastric banding.

OBJECTIVES: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has greater efficacy for weight loss in obese patients than gastric banding (BAND) surgery. We hypothesise that this may result from different effects on food hedonics via physiological changes secondary to distinct gut anatomy manipulations. DESIGN: We used functional MRI, eating behaviour and hormonal phenotyping to compare body mass index (BMI)-matched unoperated controls and patients after RYGB and BAND surgery for obesity. RESULTS: Obese patients after RYGB had lower brain-hedonic responses to food than patients after BAND surgery. RYGB patients had lower activation than BAND patients in brain reward systems, particularly to high-calorie foods, including the orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. This was associated with lower palatability and appeal of high-calorie foods and healthier eating behaviour, including less fat intake, in RYGB compared with BAND patients and/or BMI-matched unoperated controls. These differences were not explicable by differences in hunger or psychological traits between the surgical groups, but anorexigenic plasma gut hormones (GLP-1 and PYY), plasma bile acids and symptoms of dumping syndrome were increased in RYGB patients. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of these differences in food hedonic responses as a result of altered gut anatomy/physiology provides a novel explanation for the more favourable long-term weight loss seen after RYGB than after BAND surgery, highlighting the importance of the gut-brain axis in the control of reward-based eating behaviour.

Patients' perception of the nursing contribution to gastric band surgery.

Gastric banding is an established and effective form of weight-loss surgery. However, the nursing contribution to it remains largely unexplored. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explored the experiences and opinions of 20 purposively recruited patients about their nurses' contribution to weight-loss surgery. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged. First, the provision of knowledge and fostering of understanding, both before and after surgery, focusing on information that addresses patients'needs. Second, staying in touch throughout the treatment period,being available whenever problems arise and advice or interventions are needed. The third theme concerned qualities demonstrated by the nurses. Open-minded patient engagement combined with person centered care fostered confidence in patients and promoted a close therapeutic relationship. Nurses make a substantial contribution to weight-loss surgery, caring for their patients' physical, surgical and,most importantly, psychosocial needs. Their role descriptions should emphasise the psychological, supportive aspects of this role.

Psychological changes in morbidly obese patients after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to observe the psychological changes at one year postop in a group of patients undergoing laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (GVL) and multidisciplinary follow- up. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with a BMI-35 or higher, who were selected for GVL, completed psychological testing. After GVL surgery, patients received psychological, nutritional, and medical attention during 12 months, and they retook the same tests. RESULTS: Psychological tests showed an improvement on almost all scales tested, except perfectionism. The most significant change was in the benchmark for Eating Disorders with an improvement of 89% for bulimia (P<.01), and 55% for body dissatisfaction (P<.01) and ineffectiveness (P<.01). In quality of life there was an improvement of 57% in the change in health status (P<.01). CONCLUSION: During our study, a protocol involving GVL and multidisciplinary follow-ups seems proved to be an effective intervention for improving bulimic symptoms and quality of living. The results of these psychological changes are similar to Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass but different to vertical banded gastroplasty or adjustable gastric band, according to previous studies. However, long-term studies are necessary to confirm this trend.

Quality of life after the Sweedish adjustable gastric band procedure.

The term "quality of life" usually describes factors that have an impact on living conditions within the society or on an individual. Generally, the term quality of life refers to the level of the welfare of individuals or group of people. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health and as such is one of the most common pathological conditions of modern society. Almost 10-25% of adult population in Europe, 1/3 population in the USA and 20% of population in Croatia are affected by obesity. In this prospective study we included 30 patients who underwent Sweedish adjustable gastric band procedure (SAGB) (Johnson & Johnson) procedures without complications during the first year of the postoperative period. Body mass index (BMI) was in female patients 40,52174 kg/m2 and in male patients 46,71429 kg/m2. Prior to the surgical procedures 13 patients (43.33%) experienced worse health conditions. Health conditions were equl in 17 patients. The treatment was ineffective in 5 patients (16.67%). In 5 patients health conditions were equal. 6 patients (20%) had good quality of life, 11 patients (36.67%) very good and only 3 patients (10%) had excellent quality of life after the procedure. We noticed body weight reduction in all patients. The quality of life was improved in all patients, except for one 28 years old woman. Body weight loss and quality of life after the procedure are in positive correlation which means that significant body weight loss leads to improved quality of life. Our conclusion is that SAGB is a quality method in obesity treatment which improves quality of life.

Long-term outcome after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity.

This study was performed to determine the long-term consequences of laparoscopic gastric banding on weight loss, body image, and life quality in morbidly obese patients. After a minimum follow-up of 9 years (mean follow-up 10 years; range 9-12 years) several questionnaires concerning weight loss, body image, and life quality were mailed to 180 morbidly obese patients following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. One hundred and twelve (62%) patients (92 females, 20 males) completed and returned the questionnaires. Of the entire sample, 73 (64.9%) patients still had the first band, 17 (15.3%) a second band, and in 22 (19.8%) probands the band had been removed for various reasons. Average weight loss, calculated as change in body mass index, was 13.9 kg/m². Average excess weight loss (EWL) was 30.6%. A total of 10% patients accounted for >50% of EWL. Half of the probands were completely satisfied with their weight loss and about half had reached their planned weight. Lowest post-operative weight was reached at different times, in nearly half of the probands after 2 years, in one-fourth after 4-5 years, and in about 20% at a later time. More than 90% of the probands experienced longer interruptions in weight loss; about half knew why. The findings indicate that overall quality of life was rated good to excellent by two-thirds of the probands, and fair to poor by one-third. A close correlation was seen between extent of weight loss and quality of life and body image. Despite some limitations, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is an effective and safe long-term surgical treatment for a majority of morbidly obese individuals, resulting in long-term weight loss and health-related quality of life. However, there is also a minority of morbidly obese subjects who do not benefit enough from this kind of bariatric surgery. Future research should investigate what kind of bariatric surgery is best for the particular obese individual in order to minimize unsatisfying post-operative results.

[Psychological factors related to gastric banding. Results of a follow-up study]. / Psychische Faktoren bei Magenbandimplantation. Ergebnisse einer Follow-up-Untersuchung.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a widespread illness in Western industrialized countries, causing a high financial burden for the health systems. Several studies could demonstrate the positive effects of bariatric surgery on psychological and psychosocial parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with morbid obesity (BMI > or =40 kg/m(2)) answered two questionnaires, the SCL-90-R, assessing psychological distress, and the IIP-D, measuring interpersonal problems, before and 6 months after gastric banding. Six months after surgery an additional questionnaire measuring subjective feelings was administered, too. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the patients were dissatisfied with therapy and outcome. They reported a lack of psychological support as well as new surgery-related physical and psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study pointed out the necessity for psychotherapeutic help after surgery to manage already existing or new psychological needs due to gastric banding.

Knowledge and attitude of candidates to gastroplasty about perioperative: randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effectiveness of educational intervention in the knowledge and attitude of candidates for gastroplasty. METHODS: randomized controlled clinical trial with 56 preoperative patients (intervention=28; control=28). The control group received routine care from the health institution and the intervention group participated in a book-mediated educational intervention. Forms were used for clinical-epidemiological characterization and evaluation of knowledge/attitude about bariatric surgery, which were reapplied seven weeks after intervention. RBR-297fzx. RESULTS: in the pre-test there was no significant difference between the groups (p=0.254). In the post-test, the group that received verbal guidance had a mean score of 19.5 (± 6.17) and the group reading the booklet averaged 31.1 (± 2.96), p=0.000. The attitude is adequate, especially for care such as vitamin supplement intake, water intake and physical activity practice. CONCLUSIONS: the educational intervention mediated by booklet was effective in improving knowledge and attitude when compared to verbal guidance. Thus, it can be replicated during the preoperative preparation.

Assessment of the relationship between post-meal satiety, gastric volume and gastric emptying after swedish adjustable gastric banding. A pilot study using magnetic resonance imaging to assess postsurgery gastric function.

BACKGROUND: Swedish adjustable gastric banding (SAGB) is a common weight loss procedure performed worldwide. The exact mechanism by which it achieves appetite suppression, and hence weight loss, is not clear. One possible mechanism is altered meal handling by the post-SAGB stomach. METHODS: Five post SAGB patients and five age/sex-matched controls were recruited. Pre- and post-meal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with two liquid test meals of differing viscosity-locust bean gum (3.0%) and water. Appetite was assessed using ten-point visual analogue scales. RESULTS: There were significant relationships between hunger scores and esophageal, pouch and residual stomach fluid volume changes for the locust bean gum meal (p=0.033, 0.043 and 0.011, respectively). The rate constants for gastric emptying were similar in the two groups for both the gum (0.038+/-0.016 min(-1) for SAGB, 0.041+/-0.032 min(-1) for controls, p=0.44) and water meals (0.068+/-0.044 min(-1) for SAGB, 0.044+/-0.009 min(-1) for controls, p=0.35). An unexpected finding was asymptomatic esophageal meal retention with the locust bean gum meal in the post-SAGB arm (mean 16.9 ml at 15 min). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of differences in volume-dependent gastric emptying between the normal and post-SAGB stomach. Further investigation of the phenomenon of esophageal retention, and its role in post-SAGB satiety, is warranted.

Initiation and maintenance of weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The role of outcome expectation and satisfaction with the psychosocial outcome.

BACKGROUND: A premise of this study was that different psychological processes would predict the initiation and maintenance of weight loss after surgery for morbid obesity. Our aim was to examine whether more favorable preoperative expectations of psychosocial outcomes predict weight loss in the first year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and whether postoperative satisfaction with these outcomes predicts weight maintenance in the second year after the operation. METHODS: Six months before and 1 year after surgery, the "Obesity Psychosocial State Questionnaire" was filled out by 91 patients (77 female, 14 male, mean age 45+/-9 years, mean preoperative body mass index 47+/-6 kg/m2). We evaluated the preoperative outcome expectations and the postoperative satisfaction for the seven domains of psychosocial and physical functioning of this questionnaire, as well as the correlations between these scores and both weight loss and weight maintenance. RESULTS: Patients showed high satisfaction with psychosocial outcomes after LAGB in all seven domains (p<0.001), even though the improvement was less than expected in five of the domains (p

Psychosocial predictors of success after vertical banded gastroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial and behavioral factors contribute to successful postoperative outcomes. Patients' psychological factors may be predictive of postsurgical adjustment. The identification of these factors would allow targeting patients at risk of a poor outcome. Furthermore, it would enable better patient selection and preoperative and/or postoperative counseling to improve long-term outcomes. Unfortunately, no such consistent and reproducible predictors have been found so far. METHODS: The present study investigated in morbid obese patients who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) the predictive value of preoperative parameters, especially health-related quality of life (HRQoL), personality, psychosocial functioning, body image, and eating behavior for 2-year changes in these variables, as well as weight loss. RESULTS: Two years after VBG, patients had significant weight loss and reported improvements in physical HRQoL, personality and psychosocial functioning, body image, and eating behavior. Although we were not able to find psychosocial predictors of excess weight loss or excess body mass index loss 2 years after VBG, we did find psychosocial predictors of 2-year changes in HRQoL, personality and psychosocial functioning, body image, and eating behavior. CONCLUSION: Preoperative psychological assessment may not be necessary with respect to weight loss. However, it is helpful in targeting patients at risk of poor psychological outcomes after VBG.

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

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/m(2) before surgery to 35.2+/-7.5 kg/m(2) 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.

The prevalence of self-harm behaviors among a sample of gastric surgery candidates.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical treatment of obesity is becoming increasingly popular; yet, little is known about the self-harm characteristics and adjunctive self-regulation difficulties of those seeking such surgery. In the literature, one study has explored presurgery suicide attempts and several studies have explored the prevalence of postsurgical completed suicides. However, beyond suicide attempts and completions, little is known about the broader self-harm/self-regulation profiles of these patients. In this study, we examined the prevalence of 22 such behaviors among a sample of gastric surgery candidates. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional approach, we examined 121 surgical candidates for 22 self-reported self-harm and self-regulatory behaviors. RESULTS: The studied behaviors with the highest prevalence rates in this cohort were sexual promiscuity (22.3%), torturing oneself with self-defeating thoughts (20.7%), alcohol abuse (19.0%), and engaging in emotionally abusive relationships (16.5%). With regard to suicide attempts, 9.1% of participants acknowledged a history and 9.1% reported past overdoses. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that (a) adjunctive self-regulatory difficulties may affect a substantial minority of individuals who are seeking gastric surgery for obesity (e.g., promiscuity and alcohol abuse), and (b) the anticipated prevalence rate for past suicide attempts in this population appears to be approximately 10%.

Short- and long-term results of laparoscopic gastric banding for morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Today, gastric banding has become a common bariatric procedure. Weight loss can be excellent, but is not sufficient in a significant proportion of patients. Few long-term studies have been published. We present our results after up to 9 years of follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients (1997-2004) were analyzed retrospectively after laparoscopic gastric banding (perigastric technique: n = 60; pars flaccida technique: n = 67) in terms of preoperative characteristics, weight loss, comorbidities, short- and long-term complications, and quality of life. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 63 months (range 2-104). Incidence of postoperative complications were: gastric perforation in 3.1%, band erosion in 3.1%, band or port leak in 2.3%, port infection in 5.3%, port dislocation in 6.9%, and pouch dilatation in 16.9%. Total number of patients requiring reoperation was 34 (26.7%) [perigastric technique n = 23 (38.8%) versus pars flaccida technique n = 11 (16%), p = 0.039]. Mean excess body weight loss (%) was 50.6%. Most patients reported an increase in quality of life after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric banding is effective for achieving weight loss and improving comorbidity in obese patients. Obviously, gastric banding can be performed more safely with the pars flaccida technique, although the complication rate remains relatively high. Nevertheless, based on adequate patient selection, gastric banding should still be considered a valuable therapeutic option in bariatric surgery.

The prevalence of binge eating disorder and borderline personality symptomatology among gastric surgery patients.

In this study, we examined the prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in a sample of 121 candidates seeking surgery for obesity. In this predominantly female sample (85.9%), according to the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-Revised (QEWP-R), the prevalence of BED was 6.5%. As for the prevalence of BPD, 14.0% exceeded the clinical cut-off score on the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI), 14.0% exceeded the clinical cut-off score on the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4), and 7.4% exceeded the clinical cut-off score on the McLean Screening Inventory for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD). Overall, 24.8% of the sample exceeded the clinical cut-off on at least one measure of BPD whereas only 3.3% exceeded the clinical cut-off on all three measures. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between the discrepancy between highest and lowest adult body mass index, and scores on the PDQ-4 and the MSI-BPD. The authors discuss the implications of these findings.