Quality of life after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for severe obesity: postoperative and retrospective preoperative evaluations

Quality of life and bariatric surgery: a systematic review of short- and long-term results and comparison with community norms

Currently the effects of bariatric surgery are generally expressed in excess weight loss or comorbidity reduction. Therefore the aim of this review was to provide insight in the available prospective evidence regarding the short and long-term effects of bariatric surgery on Quality of Life (QoL) and a comparison with community norms. A systematic multi-database search was conducted for 'QoL' and 'Bariatric surgery'. Only prospective studies with QoL before and after bariatric surgery were included. The 'Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After Studies with No Control Group' was used to assess the methodological quality. Thirty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were assessed to be of 'fair' to 'good' methodological quality. Ten different questionnaires were used to measure QoL. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 10 years, sample sizes from 26 to 1276 and follow-up rates from 45 to 100%. A significant increase in QoL after bariatric surgery was found in all studies (P⩽0.05), however, mostly these outcomes stay below community norms. Only outcomes of the IWQoL, SF-36 and OWQoL show QoL outcomes that exceed community norms. The QoL is increased after bariatric surgery on both the short and long term. However, due to the heterogeneity of the studies and the generality of the questionnaires is it hard to make a distinction between different surgeries and difficult to see a relation with medical profit. Therefore, tailoring QoL measurements to the bariatric population is recommended as the focus of future studies.

Quality of Life, Body Image and Sexual Functioning in Bariatric Surgery Patients

This article provides an overview of the literature on quality of life, body image and sexual behaviour in individuals with extreme obesity and who undergo bariatric surgery. Quality of life is a psychosocial construct that includes multiple domains, including health-related quality of life, weight-related quality of life, as well as other psychological constructs such as body image and sexual functioning. A large literature has documented the impairments in quality of life and these other domains in persons with obesity and extreme obesity in particular. These impairments are believed to play an influential role in the decision to undergo bariatric surgery. Individuals who undergo bariatric surgery typically report significant improvements in these and other areas of psychosocial functioning, often before they reach their maximum weight loss. The durability of these changes as patients maintain or regain weight, however, is largely unknown.

Psychological outcome 4 years after restrictive bariatric surgery

Extreme obesity is associated with severe psychiatric and somatic comorbidity and impairment of psychosocial functioning. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment not only with regard to weight loss but also with obesity-associated illnesses. Health-related psychological and psychosocial variables have been increasingly considered as important outcome variables of bariatric surgery. However, the long-term impact of bariatric surgery on psychological and psychosocial functioning is largely unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the course of weight and psychological variables including depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and self-esteem up to 4 years after obesity surgery.By standardized questionnaires prior to (T1) and 1 year (T2), 2 years (T3), and 4 years (T4) after surgery, 148 patients (47 males (31.8 %), 101 females (68.2 %), mean age 38.8 ± 10.2 years) were assessed.On average, participants lost 24.6 % of their initial weight 1 year after surgery, 25.1 % after 2 years, and 22.3 % after 4 years. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in depressive symptoms, physical dimension of quality of life, and self-esteem with peak improvements 1 year after surgery. These improvements were largely maintained. Significant correlations between weight loss and improvements in depression, physical aspects of HRQOL (T2, T3, and T4), and self-esteem (T3) were observed.Corresponding to the considerable weight loss after bariatric surgery, important aspects of mental health improved significantly during the 4-year follow-up period. However, parallel to weight regain, psychological improvements showed a slow but not significant decline over time.

Body contouring surgery after bariatric surgery: a study of cost as a barrier and impact on psychological well-being

BACKGROUND

Body-contouring surgery can be a solution to excess skin folds following bariatric surgery. Many patients desire body-contouring surgery, but the cost of the procedure may be a limiting factor. This study aims to examine barriers to access and to compare socioeconomic variables and psychological variables between bariatric surgery patients who have undergone body contouring and those who have not.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire packet was administered to (1) patients who underwent bariatric but not body-contouring surgery and (2) patients who underwent both. The questionnaire included perceived barriers to body-contouring surgery, socioeconomic barriers, measures of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item scale), and quality of life (Short Form-36).

RESULTS

Among the 58 study participants, 93.1 percent reported having excess skin folds. Of this sample, 95.4 percent desired body-contouring surgery, and the majority (87.8 percent) of this subsample identified cost as the major barrier to access. Mean scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (6.08 ± 5.97 versus 3.50 ± 3.10; p = 0.030) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (6.40 ± 6.77 versus 2.40 ± 2.37; p = 0.002) were significantly higher for the bariatric surgery group versus bariatric surgery plus body contouring group. Patients in the latter group had significantly higher Short Form-36 physical health component scores (56.80 ± 4.88 versus 49.57 ± 8.25; p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery patients who desire body-contouring surgery perceive cost as a major barrier. Patients undergoing body-contouring surgery may experience improved physical quality of life but not mental quality of life; however, body-contouring surgery may improve aspects of depression and anxiety.

The impact of a primary care-based weight loss intervention on the quality of life

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated changes in the quality of life of men and women who participated in a primary care-based weight loss intervention program.

METHODS

Participants were enrolled in a 2-year randomized clinical trial (POWER-UP) conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and in six affiliated primary care practices. Inclusion criteria included the presence of obesity (body mass index of 30-50 kg m(-2)) and at least two components of the metabolic syndrome.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Quality of life was assessed by three measures: the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12); the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite; and the EuroQol-5D.

RESULTS

Six months after the onset of treatment, and with a mean weight loss of 3.9 ± 0.3 kg, participants reported significant improvements on all measures of interest with the exception of the Mental Component Score of the SF-12. These changes remained significantly improved from baseline to month 24, with the exception of the EuroQol-5D. Many of these improvements were correlated with the magnitude of weight loss and, for the most part, were consistent across gender and ethnic group.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with obesity and components of the metabolic syndrome reported significant improvements in most domains of the quality of life with a modest weight loss of 3.7% of initial weight, which was achieved within the first 6 months of treatment. The majority of these improvements were maintained at month 24, when participants had lost 3.0% of their weight.

Changes in quality of life after short and long term follow-up of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity

CONTEXT

It is unclear whether health-related quality of life (HRQL) is sustained in a long-term follow-up of morbidly obese patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Objective This study aims to analyze the HRQL changes following RYGB in short and long-term follow-up.

METHODS

We compared the health-related quality of life among three separate patient groups, using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Group A - 50 preoperative morbidly obese patients; Group B - 50 RYGB patients 1-2 years post-surgery; Group C - 50 RYGB patients more than 7 years post-surgery.

RESULTS

The groups were similar for gender, age and body mass index before surgery. We observed that physical functioning, social function, emotional role functioning and mental health scales did not vary between the three groups. The physical role functioning scale was unchanged in the short-term and decreased compared to the preoperative scale in the long-term follow-up. Bodily pain improved after the operation but returned to the initial level after 7 years. The vitality and general health perceptions improved after the operation and maintained these results after 7 years compared with the preoperative perceptions.

CONCLUSIONS

RYGB improved health-related quality of life in three SF-36 domains (bodily pain, general health perceptions and vitality) in the short-term and two SF-36 domains (general health perceptions and vitality) in the long-term.

Psychopathology in bariatric surgery candidates: a review of studies using structured diagnostic interviews

Psychiatric disorders are not uncommon among severely obese patients who present for bariatric surgery. This paper (1) reviews the results of the published studies using the structured interviews to assess psychopathology in bariatric surgery candidates; (2) compares the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders across these studies with the data from other population samples; and (3) assesses whether sociodemographic variables appear to affect these prevalence rates. We searched online resources, PubMed, PsychINFO and reference lists of all the relevant articles to provide an overview of evidence so far and highlight some details in the assessment and comparisons of different samples in different countries. The prevalence estimates in the non-treatment obese group did not appear to differ substantially from the general population group in the US or the Italian population samples, although they were relatively higher for the German population. However, the rates of psychopathology in the bariatric surgery candidates were considerably higher than the other two population groups in all the samples. Overall, the most common category of lifetime Axis I disorders in all the studies was affective disorders, with anxiety disorders being the most common category of current Axis I disorders. Certain demographic characteristics are also associated with higher rates of psychopathology, such as, female gender, low socioeconomic status, higher BMI. Overall, methodological and sociodemographic differences make these studies difficult to compare and these differences should be taken into account when interpreting the results.

Quality of life after gastric banding in morbidly obese Dutch patients: Long-term follow-up

SUMMARY

OBJECTIVE

Long-term effects of adjustable gastric banding (AGB) on quality of life (QoL) in a morbidly obese population were investigated in a cross-sectional study. Additionally, determinants of QoL after AGB were assessed.

METHODS

All patients treated by AGB for morbid obesity in a Dutch hospital were invited to complete the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Of 121 participating patients 59 met the criteria for long-term follow-up (>5 years): 4 male and 55 female, mean age 42.4 ± 9.7 years, mean body mass index (BMI) before surgery 44.9 ± 5.9 kg/m(2). Time since surgery was 74.7 months (range 60-107.6). The control group consisted of 28 presurgical patients. General and obesity-related parameters were assessed for correlation with QoL.

RESULTS

Significant differences between the preoperative group and Dutch community norm (CN) values were found on five out of eight QoL subscales, in favor of CN. AGB induced significant weight loss in the postoperative group: 56.1% excess weight loss (%EWL). This group scored significantly better than the preoperative group on one out of eight subscales: physical functioning (P = 0.019). Additionally, scores on four out of eight subscales were still significantly impaired compared to CN. Postoperative BMI and %EWL influenced QoL after long-term follow-up, whereas weight regain had no negative impact.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that after long-term follow-up subjects treated by gastric banding to induce weight loss have a slightly better QoL than those who did not undergo surgery yet. QoL remains impaired in comparison to the general population. After long-term follow-up BMI and weight loss do influence QoL whereas weight regain does not have any negative impact.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and health-related quality of life in bariatric surgery patients

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is impaired in severely obese individuals presenting for bariatric surgery. Little is known about the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQOL in these individuals. We hypothesized that better HRQOL would be reported by those with higher CRF. In 326 gastric bypass patients (mean BMI = 46.5 ± 7.0; mean age=40.9 ± 10.1; 83.4% female), pre-surgical CRF was quantified as duration (minutes) of a submaximal treadmill test to 80% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (MHR). Patients completed both a general measure of HRQOL [the Medical Outcome Short Form 36 (SF-36)] and a weight-specific measure of HRQOL [Impact of Weight on Quality of Life--Lite]. Mean HRQOL scores were examined, controlling for age, gender, and BMI. Mean treadmill duration was 9.9 ± 3.1 min, and percent age-predicted MHR was 81.2 ± 3.0%. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness tended to be associated with better physical and weight-specific HRQOL. Adjustment for differences in gender, age, and BMI attenuated the significance of associations between fitness and physical measures from the SF-36, whereas adjustment eliminated significance of associations between fitness and weight-specific HRQOL in most cases. Results suggest that CRF confers some HRQOL benefits in severely obese adults, though these benefits may largely be explained by differences in age, gender, and BMI.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery medical guidelines for clinical practice for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice are systematically developed statements to assist health-care professionals in medical decision making for specific clinical conditions. Most of the content herein is based on literature reviews. In areas of uncertainty, professional judgment was applied. These guidelines are a working document that reflects the state of the field at the time of publication. Because rapid changes in this area are expected, periodic revisions are inevitable. We encourage medical professionals to use this information in conjunction with their best clinical judgment. The presented recommendations may not be appropriate in all situations. Any decision by practitioners to apply these guidelines must be made in light of local resources and individual patient circumstances. The American Society for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition fully endorses sections of these guidelines that address the metabolic and nutritional management of the bariatric surgical patient.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice are systematically developed statements to assist healthcare professionals in medical decision making for specific clinical conditions. Most of the content herein is based on literature reviews. In areas of uncertainty, professional judgment was applied. These guidelines are a working document that reflects the state of the field at the time of publication. Because rapid changes in this area are expected, periodic revisions are inevitable. We encourage medical professionals to use this information in conjunction with their best clinical judgment. The presented recommendations may not be appropriate in all situations. Any decision by practitioners to apply these guidelines must be made in light of local resources and individual patient circumstances. The American Society for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition fully endorses sections of these guidelines that address the metabolic and nutritional management of the bariatric surgical patient.

Health and health-related quality of life: differences between men and women who seek gastric bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the differences between male and female bariatric surgery candidates with respect to health-related quality of life (HRQOL), health, sociodemographic variables, and interactions among these variables in a bariatric surgery practice in the United States. Women seek bariatric surgery 5 times more often than men. Research on gender differences in HRQOL is limited, and the results are conflicting.

METHODS

A total of 794 surgery candidates (mean age 42.2 y; body mass index 46.9 kg/m2; 84.8% women) completed both a weight-related (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire) and a generic (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36) measure of HRQOL. Health was evaluated by questionnaire and clinical interviews.

RESULTS

Compared to men, women reported reduced HRQOL on 3 of the 5 scales assessing obesity-specific HRQOL and also the physical aspects of general HRQOL. Women also had double the rate of depression (48.5% versus 22.5%), and men had double the rate of sleep apnea (80.3% versus 40.2%). Women were younger, less obese, and were less likely to be married. No gender differences were found in the association between HRQOL and co-morbidities. However, an increasing number of co-morbidities was associated with decreasing physical and mental HRQOL. Additionally, depression was associated with decreased mental HRQOL, and coronary heart disease was associated with decreased physical HRQOL.

CONCLUSION

Women's reduced HRQOL, particularly in self-esteem, sexual life, and physical functioning, and their greater rates of depression, might play a role in their decision to seek bariatric surgery. Although we could not determine causality, this study is a first step toward understanding why women seek surgery 5 times more often than men.

Psychiatric considerations of the massive weight loss patient

As bariatric surgery for extreme obesity continues to grow in popularity, so does interest in postbariatric surgery body-contouring surgery. There is an extensive literature on the psychological characteristics of persons with extreme obesity who undergo bariatric surgery and the psychological changes that typically occur postoperatively. Far less, however, is known about the psychological aspects of body contouring following massive weight loss. This article reviews the psychosocial characteristics of individuals with extreme obesity who undergo bariatric surgery, as well as the changes in these traits that typically occur postoperatively. Because there have been few studies of the psychological aspects of patients who have lost massive amounts of weight, we use related literatures on the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and other plastic surgical procedures to identify the most relevant research and clinical issues for this unique patient population. Appropriate psychiatric screening and management of these patients is believed to play an important role in successful postoperative outcomes.

Psychological Outcome Two Years after Restrictive Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

An essential outcome criterion of obesity surgery besides weight loss is the improvement of medical and psychological health status. Both dimensions influence quality of life. This study evaluates depressive symptoms, self-esteem and health-related quality of life 2 years after bariatric surgery.

METHODS

149 patients (47 males (32%), 102 females (68%), mean age 38.8 +/- 10.3 years) were assessed by standardized questionnaires before and 1 and 2 years after gastric restrictive surgery.

RESULTS

Mean BMI pre-surgery was 51.3 +/- 8.4 kg/m2. BMI decreased significantly to 38.6 +/- 6.8 kg/m2 at 1 year and to 37.9 +/- 7.4 kg/m2 at 2 years after surgery. Statistical analyses revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms and a significant improvement in self-esteem and the physical dimension of health-related quality of life. Pre-surgery, 40.5% (n=62) of the patients suffered from depressive symptoms of clinical relevance. These depressive symptoms persisted in 17.7% (n = 27) 1 year and in 16.4% (n = 25) 2 years after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Parallel with a considerable weight loss after bariatric surgery, important aspects of mental health such as depressive symptoms and self-esteem improved significantly. These effects appear 1 year after surgery, but do not seem to change considerably afterwards.

Health-related quality of life after gastric banding

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery ameliorates obesity-associated diseases, resulting in psychological and social benefits. Long-term studies of its effects on quality of life (QOL) assessed with well established instruments are lacking. This prospective study investigated the long-term effects of gastric banding on health-related QOL using an obesity-specific validated measure.

METHODS

The Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire was completed by 50 severely obese patients before surgery and at 1, 2.5 and 5 years after gastric banding. Ninety-eight subjects with normal weight, matched for age, sex and education, also completed the HRQL questionnaire as controls.

RESULTS

Surgery was successful in all patients. Mean excess weight loss after 1, 2.5 and 5 years was 42.1, 42.2 and 41.6 per cent respectively. General wellbeing, health distress, depression, perceived attractiveness and self-worth improved significantly over the 5 years and, except for general wellbeing, were still improving after 5 years. There were increases in physical activity and work productivity. Successful weight loss was the main determinant of general wellbeing and health distress, and these were adversely affected by band-related complications. In subjects with a body mass index below 30 kg/m(2), scores improved to values for subjects of normal weight.

CONCLUSION

Bariatric surgery resulted in sustained improvement in health-related QOL even though not all excess weight was lost. Normalization of health-related QOL may necessitate greater weight losses.

The prognostic significance of depressive symptoms for predicting quality of life 12 months after gastric bypass

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to examine the relative prognostic significance of weight and depressive symptoms for 12-month postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQL) in extremely obese gastric bypass patients.

METHODS

Participants comprised 137 extremely obese patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Presurgery and 12 months postsurgery participants completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey, a standard measure of HRQL, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Regression analyses were performed to predict HRQL, both before and 12 months after surgery, by using demographic variables, and measures of body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms as predictors.

RESULTS

At baseline the predictors accounted for 19% of the variance of physical HRQL, and 56% of the variance of mental HRQL. At 12 months after surgery, the predictors accounted for 32% of the variance of physical HRQL and 48% of mental HRQL. In the prediction of 12-month postoperative HRQL, baseline BMI, BMI unit change, baseline BDI, and improvements in BDI score made significant contributions to most of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey scales. Demography contributed little to these predictor analyses. Depressive symptoms made greater contributions than weight and demography, and change in BDI score made the greatest contributions (ranging from 3% to 37%) of all the variables tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of weight and depressive symptoms were useful in predicting quality of life both before and 12 months after gastric bypass surgery; however, this is the first study to document that improvements in HRQL postsurgery may be largely related to improved depressive symptoms.

Long-term health and psychosocial outcomes from surgically induced weight loss: results obtained in patients not attending protocolled follow-up visits

OBJECTIVE

Obesity management is focused at weight loss to obtain health, psychological and social benefits. Outcomes from controlled trials, however, do not reflect the everyday routine practice. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the results from surgically induced weight loss in patients devoid of a protocol-wise follow-up, who were visited at home.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent a vertical banded gastroplasty or a gastric bypass between 1980 and 1997 were eligible. Body weight and height were measured. Patients filled out questionnaires on health status (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)), psychological symptoms (Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R)), personality traits (Dutch Personality Questionnaire (DPQ)) and eating behaviour (Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ)).

RESULTS

Out of 451 operated patients the addresses of 313 subjects could be traced and 236 (75%) agreed to participate. They maintained a mean (s.d.) loss of 32.1 (22.6) kg and 45.2 (29.3) % of excess weight, 8.2 (4.5) years after the operation, about two-third of the largest weight loss they achieved after 17 months postoperatively. The NHP and SCL-90-R conformed to norm values in males except for energy, sleep and emotional reactions. Females differed from norm values in every aspect and even women achieving a BMI<30 kg/m(2) did not catch up to norm values. Weight loss was inversely related to physical immobility and pain. Personality traits (DPQ) showed a higher grievance and dominance and a lower rigidity and self-esteem compared to norm values. Females scored higher in inadequacy and lower in social inadequacy. Eating patterns (DEBQ) showed mainly emotional eating and restrained eating. Effect sizes of >/=0.8 s.d. were chosen to reflect the clinical relevance of statistically significant findings. Pain, disturbances in sleep, energy and mobility and emotional and restrained eating proved to be clinically relevant. In subjects operated >5 years ago, a higher sensitivity, a higher inadequacy and a lower social inadequacy were observed compared to more recently operated subjects. A more restrained eating pattern was related to an operation of recent date.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgically induced weight losses are satisfactory in the long-term, even in patients not attending a strict follow-up protocol. Health, psychological symptoms, personality traits and eating behaviour were related to weight loss and time lapse since the operation and did not return to reference normal-weight subject values.

Psychosocial and behavioral aspects of bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular treatment option for individuals with extreme obesity (defined as a BMI > or = 40 kg/m2) or those with less severe obesity accompanied by significant comorbidities. Sustained postoperative weight loss and improvements in obesity-related health problems make bariatric surgery the most effective treatment for this population. Nevertheless, most experts agree that psychosocial and behavioral factors contribute to successful postoperative outcomes. This paper reviews the literature on the preoperative psychosocial status, eating behaviors, and quality of life of patients who seek bariatric surgery. In addition, the paper examines studies that investigated changes in these factors postoperatively. The review concludes with an agenda for future research in this area.

Does obesity surgery improve psychosocial functioning? A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to present a review of the psychosocial outcome of bariatric surgery with special consideration of psychiatric comorbidity, psychopathology, psychosocial functioning, econometric data, and general quality of life (QoL).

PURPOSE

A review of all (non-) controlled trials of the last two decades both with a retrospective and prospective design and a follow-up period of at least 1 y.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

The relevant literature was identified by a search of computerized databases. All articles published in English and German since 1980 were reviewed. Based on the requirements of the evidenced-based guidelines of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, each study was rated by a level of evidence.

RESULTS

In all, 171 publications were reviewed. Using the above inclusion/exclusion criteria, 63 articles including two systematic reviews were identified. A total of 40 studies focused on psychosocial outcome after obesity surgery.

CONCLUSION

Mental health and psychosocial status including social relations and employment opportunities improve for the majority of people after bariatric surgery thus leading to an improved QoL. Psychiatric comorbidity, predominantly affective disorders, and psychopathologic symptoms decrease postsurgically. A substantial percentage of bariatric surgery patients suffer from binge eating disorder or binge eating symptoms. The effect of bariatric surgery on the outcome of binge eating symptoms largely depends on the type of operation. With the exception of patients with a severe psychiatric comorbidity, the concern that obesity surgery will reinforce psychic symptoms and lead to a reduction in the QoL seems to be unfounded.

Changes in comorbidities and improvements in quality of life after LAP-BAND placement

Possibly the most important outcomes of bariatric surgery involve changes in obesity-related illness, quality of life (QOL), and psychologic well-being. Dramatic improvement or resolution of serious medical comorbidity accompanies the weight loss following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the LAP-BAND (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA). There are major improvements in the conditions of the metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Improvement in insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function associated with weight loss induces remission in the majority of type 2 diabetics and reduces the risk of others developing type 2 diabetes. Improvement in dyslipidemia is characterized by raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower triglyceride concentrations. Together with lower blood pressure, these changes provide a substantial reduction in cardiovascular risk. Other medical conditions caused or aggravated by obesity are also significantly improved, including sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux. Weight loss is associated with improved fertility and more favorable pregnancy outcomes. All aspects of QOL improve substantially, especially physical disability, and post-weight-loss QOL measures approximate those of the general population. There are also major improvements in body image and reduction in depressive illness. These changes provide perhaps the most compelling data regarding the value of LAP-BAND surgery and underlie the great satisfaction experienced by patients.

Quality of life after lap-band placement: influence of time, weight loss, and comorbidities

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of life (QOL) in severely obese subjects before and after Lap-Band gastric restrictive surgery and identify factors that may influence change.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

All patients, over a 3-year period, attending for preoperative assessment (n = 459) or annual review after surgery (n = 641) have completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey. Eight domain and physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated. Scores were analyzed in groups based on time after surgery and compared with community normal (CN) values. Paired preoperative and 1-year scores (n = 218) data were used to find predictors of QOL change.

RESULTS

All preoperative mean scores (n = 459) were lower than CN values, with greater impairment in the PCS (36.8 +/- 9.5 vs. CN: 51.3 +/- 8.3, p < 0.001) than in the MCS (45.7 +/- 8.2 vs. CN: 48.8 +/- 9.5, p < 0.001) scores. After 1 year, scores were closer to CN scores (PCS: 52.4 +/- 8.2 and MCS: 48.4 +/- 7.7), and these remained closer for 4 years. Preoperative obesity comorbidity, especially physical disability, was the best predictor of poor preoperative SF-36 scores and of improvement in scores at 1 year. The percentage of excess weight loss at 1 year (46 +/- 16%) was of little predictive value of improved QOL.

DISCUSSION

Severely obese subjects have poor health-related QOL as measured by the SF-36 health survey. Lap-Band surgery for this group has provided a dramatic and sustained improvement in all measures of the SF-36. Improvement is greater in those with greater preoperative disability, and the extent of weight loss is not a good predictor of improved QOL.