Race, Gender May Affect Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss

African Americans and males lost significant weight after gastric bypass surgery, but not as much as their white and female counterparts, according to a new study presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

The study found African Americans lost about 10% less of their excess weight than whites, while men of all races lost 10% less than women. Increasing age and higher initial weight were also identified as significant factors in predicting weight loss. Researchers from Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia followed 1,096 gastric bypass patients with at least one-year follow-up. Patients were on average 45 years old, and had an average BMI of 47.6.

Excess weight loss was 63.2% in African Americans and 71.9% in whites, and 63% in males, compared with 71% in females. Resolution or improvement of obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea, were similar across all groups.

“The improvements in health status are consistent among all groups, however, for some reason, weight loss itself is variable,” said Ramsey M. Dallal, MD, chief of bariatric/minimally invasive surgery at Einstein Healthcare Network. “Further study is needed to determine what makes some groups more resistant to weight loss than others. It is likely there are many factors, from genetics to environment.”

Source: American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery