Disorders associated with clinically severe obesity: Significant improvement after surgical weight reduction

Background. Surgical treatment for patients with clinically severe obesity mainly aims to reduce morbidity. Methods. Sixty-two patients were examined for disorders associated with morbid obesity before and after surgical weight reduction by vertical banded gastroplasty. All patients were followed-up for 12 to 48 months. Results. At the end of the first postoperative year, 84% of the patients had lost at least 50%:, of their excess weight. Of the 218 weight-related pathologic conditions existing before the operation, 131 (60%) were completely cured, 50 (23%) showed significant improvement, and only 37 (17%) remained unchanged. The same percentages were obtained for patients followed up for 24, 36, and 48 postoperative months. Conclusions. Surgical treatment of clinically severe obesity has a significant effect on the health of the patients by eliminating the associated disorders.