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Medical Approach to a Patient with Postoperative Weight Regain

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The ASMBS Textbook of Bariatric Surgery

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Abstract

Weight loss surgery is considered to be the most efficacious treatment for individuals with clinically severe class III obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) or with moderate class II obesity (BMI ≥ 35–39.9 kg/m2) when accompanied by an obesity-related comorbidity. Significant improvement in multiple obesity-related comorbid conditions has been reported postoperatively, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and quality of life. However, long-term durability of weight loss and improvement in comorbid conditions are less certain, and weight regain has been observed. Although the causative factors of weight regain have not been well characterized, clinicians are being asked to evaluate an increasing number of patients postoperatively. This chapter will review the current information regarding weight gain following bariatric surgery and the factors associated with weight regain and present a proposed evaluation and treatment algorithm.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Rubloff 9-976, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Robert F. Kushner MD

  2. Center for Lifestyle Medicine, Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, 675 N St Clair, 17-250, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Kirsten Webb MSN, CNP, CDE

Authors
  1. Robert F. Kushner MD
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  2. Kirsten Webb MSN, CNP, CDE
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert F. Kushner MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. GI/Nutrition, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA

    Christopher Still

  2. Department of Weight and Eating Disorders, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    David B. Sarwer

  3. Policy Initiatives and Advocacy, American Dietetic Association, Falls Church, Virginia, USA

    Jeanne Blankenship

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Kushner, R.F., Webb, K. (2014). Medical Approach to a Patient with Postoperative Weight Regain. In: Still, C., Sarwer, D., Blankenship, J. (eds) The ASMBS Textbook of Bariatric Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1197-4_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1197-4_21

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