Obesity in adults: a clinical practice guideline

Obesity is a complex chronic disease in which abnormal or excess body fat (adiposity) impairs health, increases the risk of long-term medical complications and reduces lifespan.1 Epidemiologic studies define obesity using the body mass index (BMI; weight/height2), which can stratify obesity-related health risks at the population level. Obesity is operationally defined as a BMI exceeding 30 kg/m2 and is subclassified into class 1 (30­34.9), class 2 (35­39.9) and class 3 (≥ 40). At the population level, health complications from excess body fat increase as BMI increases.2 At the individual level, complications occur because of excess adiposity, location and distribution of adiposity and many other factors, including environmental, genetic, biologic and socioeconomic factors.

Long alimentary limb duodenal switch (LADS): a short-term prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) is one of the most effective bariatric surgeries, in terms of weight loss and remission of co-morbidities. It is however associated with a significant risk of protein and nutritional deficiency, as well as gastrointestinal side effects. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of increasing the strict alimentary limb on weight loss, nutritional deficiency and quality of life, compared with standard BPD-DS. SETTINGS: University-affiliated tertiary care center. METHODS: Prospective randomized double blind (patient-evaluator) trial in which patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo a modified BPD-DS with a long alimentary limb (1 m from Treitz ligament, n = 10) or a standard biliopancreatic diversion (strict alimentary limb of 1.5 m, n = 10). Common channel was kept at 100 cm in both groups. Follow-up at 12 months was completed in all patients. RESULTS: Initial weight (126 ± 10 versus 125 ± 17, P = .92), age (40 ± 7 versus 37 ± 8, P = .35), and sex ratio (1 female/9 males) were similar in both groups. Excess weight loss and total weight loss were significantly higher in the standard BPD-DS group (93.4 ± 12% versus 73.3 ± 7%, P = .0007 and 46 ± 5.6% versus 37 ± 3.4%, P = .0004). The study group had significantly higher vitamin D, manganese, and copper levels at 12 months. Both groups had similar drop in glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol levels, and resolution of co-morbidities at 12 months. Long alimentary limb was associated with significantly less bowel movements a day (1.6 ± .97 versus 2.55 ± 1.01, P = .01), less gastrointestinal side effects (bloating and gas, P<.05) and required less pancreatic enzymes supplements (0 versus 40%, P = .04) and calcium supplement. Quality of life was significantly improved in both groups in all domains (all P<.05). CONCLUSION: At 12 months, weight loss was lesser in the long alimentary limb group. There was however no difference in the remission of co-morbidities and higher levels of vitamin D, manganese, and copper. Gastrointestinal adverse effects and the need for pancreatic enzymes were less with similarly excellent quality of life at 12 months. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate long-term weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.

Long-term nutritional impact of sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has become a predominant bariatric procedure throughout the world. However, the long-term nutritional impact of this procedure is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the nutritional deficiencies before and after SG and to analyze the influence of baseline weight on nutritional status. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care center. METHODS: All patients who underwent SG as a standalone procedure between 2008 and 2012 were included in this study. Patients were given multivitamin supplementation. Data were obtained from our prospectively maintained electronic database and are reported as mean ± standard deviation and percentage. Bivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the influence of selected variables on outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of the 537 patients was 48.0 ± 11.3 years, with an initial body mass index of 48.1 ± 8.7 kg/m2. Excess weight loss and total weight loss were 56.2% and 28.0% at 1 year and 43.0% and 21.1% at 5 years, respectively (P<.0001). Percentage of follow-up was 74% at 5 years (n = 79). The mean follow-up time was 34.3 ± 17.2 months. Hypoalbuminemia was present in 1.1% preoperatively and 4.2% at 5 years (P = .0043), low ferritin levels in 8.6% and 37.8% (P<.0001), low vitamin B12 in 30.3% and 16.4% (P<.0001), low vitamin D 63.2% and 24.3% (P<.0001), and hyperparathyroidism in 23.4% and 20.8% (P<.0001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of anemia over time (P = 0.4301). The prevalence of vitamin A insufficiency peaked from 7.9% preoperatively to 28.7% at 3 months (P<.0001) and returned to baseline thereafter. Baseline weight was negatively correlated with vitamin B12 and vitamin D. CONCLUSION: Nutritional deficiencies are common in patients with morbid obesity before and after surgery. Preoperative supplementation and long-term nutritional follow-up are required to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch: Surgical Technique and Perioperative Care.

The goal of this article is to present an overview of selection criteria, surgical technique, and perioperative outcomes of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. The standard follow-up requirements, including vitamin supplementation, and long-term risks associated with metabolic surgery are also discussed. Most of the data reported here are based on the authors' experience with 4000 biliopancreatic diversions with duodenal switch performed in their institution since 1990.

Is biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch indicated for patients with body mass index <50 kg/m2?

BACKGROUND: Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (DS) has been the standard surgical approach for the treatment of morbidly obese patients at our institution since the early 1990 s. The published data, however, have shown the use of the DS to be limited to the treatment of super-morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 50 kg/m(2)). The aim of the present study was to present our long-term results with the DS in patients with an initial BMI of <50 kg/m(2). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients with a BMI <50 kg/m(2) who had undergone DS from June 1992 to May 2005. The data are reported as the mean ± standard deviation. RESULTS: The data from 810 consecutive patients, with a mean initial BMI of 44.2 ± 3.6 kg/m(2), were reviewed. The mean follow-up was 103 ± 49 months. Major perioperative complications occurred in 5.8% of patients, including 5 deaths (.6%). The initial excess weight loss was 76% ± 22%, and the excess weight loss was >50% in 89% of patients. Malnutrition required readmission in 4.3% and surgical revision in 1.5%. The prevalence of severe albumin deficiency (<30 g/L) was 1.1%, hemoglobin deficiency (<100 g/L), 1.6%, iron deficiency (<4 mmol/L) 2.1%, and calcium deficiency (<2 g/L) 3%. The percentage of patients "very satisfied" with the global result was 91%, and 37% would have preferred to lose more weight. CONCLUSION: These results showed that in non super-obese patients, DS was very efficient in terms of weight loss and patient satisfaction. This was associated with a 1.5% risk of revision for malnutrition. However, nutritional deficiencies required frequent readjustment of supplements, particularly for calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D.