Weight Loss and Eating Pattern 7 Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy. Experience of a Bariatric Center of Excellence

Purpose: Report the analysis from a single center series of consecutive primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on the factors affecting weight loss at long term. Materials and Methods: Patients submitted to primary SG with a follow-up of 7 years were screened. Weight loss was evaluated with %excess weight loss (%EWL) and %excess BMI loss (%BMIL). Weight regain (WR) was defined as in increase of 25% of the obtained %EWL and insufficient weight loss (IWL) as loss < 50% EWL. Eating behaviors were evaluated with 7 days record (7dR). All the variables potentially affecting the weight loss were cross-matched for correlation. The study population was divided in three groups: group A (WR), group B (IWL), and group C (sustained weight loss) for comparative analysis. Results: A total of 86 patients (21 M/65 F) with a preoperative BMI of 47.08 ± 6.15 kg/m2 were evaluated. Cumulative 7 years weight loss was as follows: 61.66 ± 22.69% EWL and 32 ± 9% EBMIL. A total of 4.6% had an IWL while 27.9% a WR. The analysis showed a significant difference among the daily calories and fats consuming, number of meals, physical activity, grazing/sweet eating habits, and adherence to follow-up (p < 0.05) between groups A and C. Cox hazard demonstrated a significant risk (p < 0.05) to WR in case of adherence to follow-up shorter than 48 months, high daily calories, and fats intake (hazard ratio (HR) range 5–9). Eight patients (9.3%) had a surgical revision. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that long-term results (7 years) of SG are strongly related to eating habits and patient’s behaviors.