Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Is More Effective in Patients with Puberty-Onset Obesity

Abstract

Background:

In this study, the effect of the life period when obesity develops (prepuberty, puberty, and postpuberty) on weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was evaluated.

Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated 165 morbidly obese patients who underwent LSG (body mass index [BMI] ≥40 kg/m²) between January 2014 and 2017 and completed the 12th postoperative month. Patients were divided into three groups, such as prepuberty (n = 81), puberty (n = 22), and postpuberty (n = 62). Demographic characteristics, presence of comorbidity, pre- and postoperative 12th-month weight and BMI values, excess weight loss percentage (EWL%) values, and excess BMI loss percentage values were recorded and compared among the patients in the groups.

Results:

Patients with obesity onset in puberty had a lower average age at operation (p < 0.001). Comorbidity in the groups was most commonly seen in the postpuberty group (p < 0.020). When postoperative 12th-month weight and BMI measurements were compared, relatively lower values were seen in the puberty group (p < 0.036, p < 0.019, respectively). The group with the highest postoperative EWL% change was the puberty group (p < 0.022). In subgroup analysis, the mean EWL% change was higher in the puberty group than in the prepuberty and postpuberty groups (p = 0.033 and p = 0.025, respectively).

Conclusions:

Patients with obesity onset in puberty lose weight more effectively with LSG.