Attending support group meetings has been linked to increased weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. However, the degree to which support group attendance influences weight loss is still unclear. This study quantitatively described the association between support group attendance and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP)
The investigators reviewed weight loss data and support group attendance of 78 consecutive RYGBP patients. The patients were analyzed in 2 groups: those who attended >5 monthly support group meetings (group A) compared with those who went to ≤5 support group meetings (group B). The data from the first 12 months after surgery were analyzed. Group A achieved a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 10.5% at 2 weeks after surgery, 21.4% at 6 weeks, 30.9% at 3 months, 45.4% at 6 months, 53.6% at 9 months, and 55.5% at 12 months. Group B achieved a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 11.3% at 2 weeks, 21.8% at 6 weeks, 31.8% at 3 months, 41.3% at 6 months, 45.2% at 9 months, and 47.1% at 12 months. The differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant at 9 and 12 months. The weight loss was nonlinear and slowed as patients approached 1 year after surgery.
The authors conclude that support groups are important for maintaining weight loss throughout the first year after surgery, especially after 6 months when the rate of weight loss from surgery begins to naturally decline. The amount of postoperative weight loss was greater than, or comparable to, the published data. Implementing regular support groups within the post-operative follow-up care may provide patients with the best chances of achieving maximal weight loss.
Comment
These findings support the general view amongst professionals that providing structured post-surgical support programmes is an essential component of aftercare. The study contains rather small numbers and the division into two groups based upon >5 or ≤5 attendances seems crude. Moreover, little attention seems to have been paid to the content of the support meetings, which may itself be very important. It would also be useful to know what the impact of attendance at meetings betyond 12 months would be. The present data suggest that as time goes on, the disparity in weight loss between the frequent attenders and the less-frequent attenders is likely to become larger.
Song Z, Reinhardt K, Buzdon M, Liao P. Association between support group attendance and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Mar 30; [Epub ahead of print]
