Relationship Between Smoking and Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Federico Moser, MD, Pablo Maldonado, MD, P Saleg, MD, F Signorini, MD, Veronica Gorodner, MD, Lucio Obeide, MD. Hospital Privado de Cordoba.

INTRODUCTION: bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity. Discontinuing tobacco use has been typically associated with weight gain. Thus far, there are no reports supporting this fact. Herein, our objective was to evaluate the relationship between smoking habit and weight loss in patients who underwent bariatric surgery.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES: retrospective analysis of prospective collected data of smokers undergoing bariatric surgery was performed. Demographics, and weight loss at 6, 12, and 24 postoperative months were evaluated. Tobacco use at the time of the operation was considered, and patients were classified using the Heavy Smoking Index.
RESULTS: 150 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy between January 2006 and June 2012 were selected. Patients were classified as Smokers= 50 patients, Ex-smokers= 50, and Non-smokers= 50. Mean age was 42 yrs; 88 (59%) were female, and 62 (41%) were male. Initial BMI was 46±8 kg/m². Mean follow up was 23months. For the total group, % EWL (% excess weight loss) at 6, 12, and 24 months was 65±17, 75±20, and 77±22 respectively. Comparison of weight loss among groups:

	%EWL
Follow up	Smokers	Ex-smokers	Non-smokers	p
6 mo	67±21	59±16	68±21	NS
12 mo	84±17	69±21	74±21	NS
24 mo	74±14	76±23	74±65	NS

Smokers were then divided in Severe smokers= 13, and Non severe smokers= 37. Moreover, smoking status was reassessed after surgery within the smokers group: 29 patients were still actively smoking while 21 had abandoned the habit. Again, there was not statistically significant difference in weight loss when compared severe vs. non severe smokers, and actively smokers vs. patients who had quit smoking after the operation.
CONCLUSION: short term results demonstrated that smoking status did not influence weight loss after bariatric surgery. Furthermore, abandoning the habit after surgery and severity of tobacco consumption did not affect the results either.

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