Long-Term Results of Gastroplasty for Morbid Obesity: Binge-Eating as a Predictor of Poor Outcome

We investigated the long-term results after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) for morbid obesity and evaluated some predictors of poor outcome. Twenty-seven morbidly obese patients (mean BMI 50 kg/m²) who underwent VBG a mean of 5.4 years earlier were studied. The mean weight loss was 31 kg or 40.5% of excess weight. Ten patients (37%) were within 50% of their ideal weight. The patients were classified as bingers (n = 10) and non-bingers (n = 17) according to the modified Binge Eating Scale. One-year postoperative weight losses were 55% and 57% respectively of excess weight, but at the time of the study weight losses were 24% and 50% of excess weight (p = 0.04) in the bingers and non-bingers, respectively. The mean weight regain was 23 kg in the bingers vs 8 kg in the non-bingers, p = 0.01. Two bingers had excellent weight loss results, but otherwise an unsuccessful outcome. Weight reduction did not correlate with age, sex or age of onset of obesity. These results show that binge-eating strongly predicts poor weight loss maintenance after gastroplasty in the long-term, though initial weight reduction is good. We suggest that binge-eating should be evaluated before gastroplasty and taken into consideration in the design of treatment.