Good weight loss responders and poor weight loss responders after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: clinical and nutritional profiles

Background: Bariatric surgery is one of the main treatments for severity obesity, but weight regain after surgery is an important issue. Objectives: To compare the clinical and nutritional profiles of good and poor weight loss responders in the late postoperative period after barialric surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional study with patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a University Hospital. Patients were divided into good weight loss responders (GWLR) and poor weight loss responders (PWLR) defined as >= 50% or < 50% excess weight loss (EWL), respectively, at least 2 years post-surgery. Results: The sample included 204 individuals (87.7% women; mean age 50.15 +/- 11.1 years; mean time after surgery 67.38 +/- 30.76 months). Two years post-surgery, 71.1% were considered GWLR and 28.9% PWLR (mean EWL 72.33% +/- 13.86%, and 35.06% +/- 12.10%, respectively; p = 0.000). Weight regain was < 10% for 36.3% of patients, 10.1-20% for 36.3%, and > 20% for 21.3%, compared with the lowest post-surgery weight. Among PWLR, 49.0% regained > 20% of the lowest post-surgery weight. GWLR lost most weight at all time points analyzed (p < 0.05). GWLR presented improvement or remission of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension more frequently compared to PWLR (p < 0.05). Eating patterns was similar between GWLR and PWLR (p > 0.05, study's power 100%). Quality of life improved in 79.5% of the total study sample, with greater improvements in the GWLR (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Greater weight loss correlated with improved remission in comorbidities and better quality of life.