Beyond Weight Loss: Evaluating the Multiple Benefits of Bariatric Surgery After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Adjustable Gastric Band

Background

Despite the evidence for benefits beyond weight loss following bariatric surgery, assessments of surgical outcomes are often limited to changes in weight and remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To address this shortfall in assessment, the King’s Obesity Staging System was developed. This system evaluates the individual in severity stages of physical, psychological, socio-economic and functional disease. These are categorised into disease domains arranged so as to allow an alphabetic mnemonic as Airways, Body Mass Index (BMI), Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Economic, Functional, Gonadal, Health Status (perceived) and (body) Image.

Methods

In this cohort study, patients were assessed before and 12 months after surgery using the modified King’s Obesity Staging Score. We studied 217 consecutive patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB; N?=?148) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB; N?=?69) using the modified King’s Obesity Staging System to determine health benefits after bariatric surgery.

Results

Preoperatively, the groups had similar BMI, but the RYGB group had worse Airways, Cardiovascular, and Diabetes scores (p?p?Conclusions Both RYGB and LAGB deliver multiple benefits to patients as evaluated by the modified King’s Obesity Staging System beyond BMI and glycaemic markers. A validated staging score such as the modified King’s Obesity Staging System can be used to quantify these benefits.