Evaluation of the success rate of gastric bypass surgery-assisted weight loss in Iranian patients with morbid obesity

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the success rate of gastric bypass surgery-assisted weight loss in Iranian patients with morbid obesity. This interventional study was conducted from the year 2008 to 2011 in Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Convenience sampling was conducted and the significance level was set as P < 0.05. Data analysis was performed with the help of SPSS version 16 software and the Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests. All patients referred to the clinic had a body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m². Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured using standard methods and BMI was calculated. Body compositions were measured using a body composition analyzer. Other inclusion criteria were subjected to gastric bypass (GBP) surgery. All patients underwent pre-operative psychological, nutritional, and comprehensive medical evaluations. The mean body weight declined from 114.88 ± 13.64 kg before the surgery to 100.1 ± 14.5 kg, 89.65 ± 16.09 kg, 87.38 ± 14.1 kg, and 85.73 ± 12.31 kg, respectively at the first, second, third, and fourth post-operative follow-up visits. These changes were significant (P < 0.05). The mean waist circumference declined significantly from 110.63 ± 38.6 cm before the surgery to 109.67 ± 40.6 cm, 107.94 ± 30.3 cm, 102.07 ± 10.2 cm, and 95 ± 10.3 cm, respectively, at the first to the fourth follow-up visit (P < 0.05). Anthropometric indicators recorded during the follow-up visits were significantly different from those recorded before surgery (P < 0.05). Gastric bypass surgery significantly reduced body weight and all other anthropometric variables in Iranian patients with morbid obesity.