Bariatric surgery (gastric reduction, gastric bypass) is and remains the best treatment for severe obesity. Unfortunately, most patients regain weight over time. A long-term study of the results of bariatric surgery revealed that one in four patients followed for seven years after surgery did not achieve the targeted 20 percent weight loss.
Internationally, patients are strongly advised to follow a post-operative programme after bariatric surgery in order to keep the weight loss achieved under optimal control. The reason is that valuable information received before the operation is quickly forgotten. Thanks to good professional follow-up by healthcare professionals – face to face or via a digital platform, individually or in group sessions – patients can get answers to new questions, stay motivated and learn techniques they can use to tackle psychological challenges. Such a follow-up programme can also make clear how important it is to keep making healthy food choices and why multivitamin supplements and physical activity remain necessary for life. Patients also get the chance to share experiences.
In a large study of the long-term effects of bariatric surgery carried out in three hospitals in Norway, researchers collected data on weight, health, intake of dietary supplements and physical activity for 10 to 15 years after the operation. All patients taking part in the study were offered an educational post-operative programme. About 60% of the patients said they followed the programme ‘very regularly’, 40% followed it ‘only occasionally’.
Ten years after surgery, weight regain was 65.4 percent among the regular participants and 72.2 percent among those who followed the programme only occasionally. Based on the results, the researchers strongly recommend not only following a post-operative programme, but also doing at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, with intensive training preferred over endurance training to limit weight regain.