Weight loss and metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery in China: A multicenter study

BACKGROUND: This retrospective multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of bariatric surgery in Chinese patients with obesity. METHODS: Patients with obesity who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass and completed a 12‐month follow‐up between February 2011 and November 2019 were enrolled. Weight loss, glycemic and metabolic control, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, and surgery‐related complications at 12 months were analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 356 patients aged 34.3 ± 0.6 years with a mean body mass index of 39.4 ± 0.4 kg/m(2). Successful weight loss occurred in 54.6%, 86.8%, and 92.7% of patients at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, with no difference in percent excess weight loss between the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery groups. The average percentage of total weight loss was 29.5% ± 0.6% at 12 months; 99.4%, 86.8%, and 43.5% of patients achieved at least 10%, 20%, and 30% weight loss, respectively, at 12 months. Significant improvements in metabolic indices, insulin resistance, and inflammation biomarkers were observed at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery resulted in successful weight loss and improved metabolic control, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk in Chinese patients with obesity. Both laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass are suitable approaches for such patients.