• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Clinical / Practice / Training Guidelines, Statements, and Standards of Practice
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Hypothyroidism: A Two Year Follow Up

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Hypothyroidism: A Two Year Follow Up

Michael Zhou, BA, Jordan Grubbs, MD, David Berler, MD, Benjamin E Schneider, MD, Sara A Hennessy, MD. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction and obesity are intricately connected with a positive correlation between BMI and TSH. Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective long-term treatments of obesity and its co-morbidities. Likewise, changes in thyroid function, correlating decrease of medication dosage, and even resolution of hypothyroidism have been reported in post-operative patients. However, the literature is sparse on the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on hypothyroidism. In this study, we aimed to review the effects of bariatric surgery on hypothyroidism over 2 years. 

Methods and Procedures: A retrospective review was conducted of patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNYGB) procedures at a university-affiliated academic institution from 2014 to 2016. Patients with hypothyroidism were evaluated for changes in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and dose of hypothyroid medication over follow up periods of 6, 12, and 24 months were evaluated. Patients were compared by comorbidities, type of surgery, BMI change and outcomes.

Results: Of the 401 bariatric surgery patients, 63 patients had preoperative diagnosis of hypothyroidism.  Of the patients with hypothyroidism, 24 patients had adequate TSH follow up.  Preoperative mean TSH was 2.15 with a BMI of 43.6. At 24 months there was a decrease to a TSH of 1.33 and a BMI of 33.2 (Table1). Of these patients, 4 (16.7%) had a dose decrease in their thyroid replacement medication postoperatively with an average of reduction in dose by 31.2%.

When comparing SG and RNYGB in hypothyroid patients, there was a significant difference in BMI change of 7.97 and 13.5, respectively (p=0.03), and TSH decreased by 0.21 and 0.64, respectively (p=0.04).

 

Table 1. TSH and BMI changes over follow up periods.*: Statistical significant decrease in BMI occurred post-operatively (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant decline in TSH and no correlation between BMI and TSH changes.

Conclusion: Bariatric patients with well-controlled preoperative hypothyroidism are safe to undergo either sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. They can continue to achieve adequate control of their hypothyroidism without a negative impact on absorption of hypothyroid medications.  There is a trend towards improvement in hypothyroidism with decreases in thyroid medication doses.  Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is potentially superior to gastric sleeves in treatment of hypothyroidism, with significant improvement in thyroid function.  A prospective study is necessary to understand the true impact of bariatric surgery on hypothyroidism.


Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.

Abstract ID: 94189

Program Number: P097

Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)

Presentation Type: Poster

View this Poster

3,133

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals