A Lifestyle Group Intervention Aimed at Losing Sufficient Weight After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass May Be Helpful for a Small Group of Patients

Abstract

Background:

The aim is to determine the proportion and characteristics of patients who may need a postoperative lifestyle intervention after a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) to lose sufficient weight.

Materials and Methods:

Patients who underwent an LRYGB (N = 466) and were offered a lifestyle intervention were included. Patients who attended most sessions (i.e., ≥4) were compared with those who attended less than four sessions (nonattendance group) with regard to %excess weight loss and sufficient weight loss (>50%EWL) a year after surgery. Moreover, in the nonattendance group, those showing sufficient and insufficient weight loss were compared regarding sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables.

Results:

Of those who attended ≥4 sessions, 86.6% reached adequate weight loss while in the nonattendance group (<4 session), 73% showed sufficient weight loss. Lower body mass index before surgery (r = 0.143, p < 0.05), being female (odds ratio = 2.29), and active coping [t (136) = −2.28, p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval; CI −1.03 to 0.07] were associated with sufficient weight loss in the nonattendance group.

Conclusion:

Attending a postoperative lifestyle intervention resulted in sufficient weight loss in an additional 13.6% of the patients. Women with lower presurgical body mass index who reported more active coping strategies before surgery may not be in need of a postoperative behavioral intervention to lose sufficient weight.