Patient Expectations of Weight Loss from Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Patients' expectation of weight loss in the first year and total weight loss following bariatric surgery for obesity was examined in 250 consecutive referrals of preoperative female patients. The mean age was 40.3 years (range, 19–64 years). The average weight was 289.5 pounds (range, 189–475 pounds) (131.6 kg; range, 86–216 kg) and the average body mass index (BMI) was 48.2 (range, 27.4–76.7). Each patient completed a weight and lifestyle inventory, providing information on current height and weight, how much weight they realistically expected to lose in one year, how much weight each realistically expected to lose overall, and their expected sustained weight loss behavior. The average amount of weight patients wanted to lose by 12 months following bariatric surgery was 101.7 pounds (46 kg)and 138.3 pounds (63 kg) overall. Patients' expected BMI following surgery averaged 25.3. A majority had normal BMI expectations and a small percentage had overly high expectations. Nearly one-third of the sample expected to lose between 91–100% of their total weight loss goal during the first year. On average, patients did not have excessively unrealistic overall weight loss goals. A large percentage expected to lose significant amounts of weight but could still be classified as being obese. A small percentage appeared to have overly excessive expectations. A significant portion of patients had 12-month weight goals that may indeed be unrealistic. They expected to lose the vast majority (if not all) of their overall goal weight in that time frame. Reasons for these findings are presented, along with implications about counseling patients on weight loss expectations from bariatric surgery.