Weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has a large negative impact on the Bariatric Quality of Life Index

Abstract

Background

Despite initial successful weight loss, some patients may experience weight regain following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Objective

To assess the impact of weight regain on bariatric patients’ quality of life (QoL).

Methods

This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Fifty-six consecutive RYGB patients were recruited and divided into weight-regain and weight-stable cohorts. QoL was assessed using the Bariatric Quality of Life (BQL) questionnaire. The BQL Index scores of the weight-regain and weight-stable groups were compared using Student’s t-test. Additionally, the BQL Index score of the weight-regain group was compared with that of historical prebariatric patients. Predictors of BQL were assessed using univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.

Results

Of 56 RYGB patients, 41 (73%) had weight regain. On average, patients had body mass index (BMI) of 37 ±7.5 kg/m² and gained 34 ±26% of maximal weight initially lost. Weight-regain patients had lower BQL Index scores than weight-stable patients (44.8±6 vs 53±7, p<0.001). Patients with weight regain had similar BQL Index scores as the prebariatric patients despite lower BMI (BMI of 39.7±6.8 vs 47.2±7.6, p<0.05; BQL Index of 44.8±6 vs 41.6±10.4, p=0.144, respectively). Years from RYGB, BMI and amount of weight regain were associated with BQL Index on a univariate analysis (β=−0.55,−0.52, −0.7; p<0.0001). Only weight regain was a significant predictor of BQL on a multivariate analysis (β =−0.56; p=0.001).

Conclusion

Weight regain had a negative impact on bariatric patients’ QoL. Patients who regained at least 15% of maximal weight lost appeared to have as low QoL as those who had not undergone bariatric surgery despite a lower BMI.

Summary box.

What is already known about this subject?

• Weight regain is not infrequent after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

• Bariatric Quality of Life (BQL) questionnaire is a validated and objective survey that assesses quality of life (QoL) of bariatric patients before and after surgery.

• Weight regain following pharmacotherapy for obesity is associated with worsening QoL, although not back to baseline.

What are the new findings?

• Patients who experience weight regain following RYGB have worse QoL than those whose weights remain stable after surgery.

• Patients who experience weight regain following RYGB have similar QoL as those who have not undergone RYGB despite lower body mass index (BMI).

• Weight regain is a significant negative predictor of QoL after bariatric surgery after controlling for age, BMI and years from RYGB.

How might this impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?

• Understanding the negative impact that weight regain has on QoL highlights the importance of close follow-up and its early recognition.

• More intensive multidisciplinary care to prevent weight regain is critical to improve long-term success of bariatric surgery.

• Gastroenterologists should become familiar with pharmacological and endoscopic treatment options to manage weight regain.

Introduction

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a commonly performed bariatric surgery.^1–3 Although RYGB is an effective procedure, it has been estimated that 15%–35% of patients will not achieve satisfactory weight loss (≥50% excess weight loss) or will experience significant weight regain (gaining of ≥15% of the maximal weight initially lost).^3–9 Gastroenterologists are caring for ever increasing numbers of patients with RYGB, and there are now many endoscopic options available to treat weight regain.

Traditionally, weight loss and resolution of obesity-related comorbid illnesses have been used as primary outcomes for bariatric surgeries. However, of equal importance is patients’ quality of life (QoL), which sometimes may be considered as a true measure of effectiveness of a surgical procedure. In 2005, Weiner and colleagues developed the Bariatric Quality of Life (BQL) questionnaire, which was a validated and objective survey that assessed QoL of bariatric patients before and after the surgery. It consisted of questions related to weight, obesity-related comorbid illnesses, surgery-related gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological well-being, social function and physical functioning. The questionnaire has been demonstrated to be sensitive to changes after bariatric surgical interventions, and therefore has been used to assess the effectiveness of multiple bariatric and metabolic surgical procedures.^10–12 While it has been previously demonstrated that RYGB is associated with improved QoL,^{13 14} the effect of weight regain after initial weight loss following bariatric surgery on patients’ life quality remains unknown.

A previous study of pharmacological therapy for obesity demonstrated that QoL improved with initial weight loss and subsequently worsened with weight regain. However, the QoL with weight regain remained better than that of the pretreatment assessment.¹⁵ As such, we hypothesised that the BQL Index scores would be lower in weight-regain patients than those in weight-stable patients, yet higher than the pretreatment cohort.

This study aimed to assess the impact of weight regain on bariatric patient’s QoL. Additionally, predictors of post-BQL were determined.

Materials and methods

Study design

This study was a prospective cross-sectional study that was conducted at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) Fifty-six consecutive RYGB patients were enrolled at the weekly bariatric centre of excellence at the Department of Surgery. Inclusion criteria was a history of RYGB of at least 1 year prior to the time of study enrolment. Exclusion criteria included a history of revisional surgery, transoral outlet reduction (TORe) or other endoscopic intervention for weight regain. Patients’ demographics, weight profile, height and comorbidities were collected. The BQL questionnaire was then administered. All participants provided written informed consents. The study was approved by the institution review board committee.

Definitions

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms/(height in metres)². Amount of weight regain was calculated using the formula (current weight–nadir weight) / (pre-RYGB weight – nadir weight) x 100%. In this study, weight regain was defined as gaining of at least 15% of the weight that was initially lost after bariatric surgery. This was based on available literature that defined weight regain as gaining of 5% to 30% or more of maximal weight initially lost.^{16 17} Stable weight was defined as gaining of <15% of maximal weight initially lost.

Part I: Association between weight regain and BQL

The RYGB cohort was divided into two groups: those with weight regain and those with stable weight. The BQL Index scores of the weight-regain and weight-stable groups were compared. Additionally, the BQL Index scores of the weight-regain group were also compared with those of the historical prebariatric surgery patients. Specifically, this control group consisted of patients with obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m²), whose QoL were assessed using BQL questionnaire prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. This was previously collected as part of a separate study protocol.^{18 19}

Part II: Predictors of BQL

Predicting factors of QoL after RYGB were determined using univariate and multivariate linear regression. Potential predictors, which were included in the model, were age, years from RYGB, BMI and the amount of weight regain.

BQL questionnaire

The BQL questionnaire is a validated instrument that was designed to assess patients’ QoL after bariatric procedures.^{18 19} It consists of 30 questions divided into two sections. The first section consisting of 16 items assesses non-QoL factors including obesity-related comorbidities, gastrointestinal symptoms that are common after bariatric surgery and medication intake (figure 1). The second section consisting of 14 items assesses QoL factors with a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 5 points (figure 2). The BQL Index score is calculated by adding all the item scores from both sections, and ranges from a scale of 0 to 78 with a higher score representing better QoL.

Figure 1.

The Bariatric Quality of Life questionnaire (part 1). From Weiner et al. ¹⁸

Figure 2.

The Bariatric Quality of Life questionnaire (part 2). From Weiner et al ¹⁸

Statistical analysis

All continuous variables were expressed as mean±SD deviation. Categorical variables were expressed as proportions (%). Student’s t-test was used to compare continuous measures between the two groups, and Pearson’s Χ² test was used for comparison of categorical variables. Univariate linear regression analysis was used to determine an association between BQL Index scores and age, years from RYGB, BMI and the amount weight regain. Multivariate linear regression analysis was then performed to adjust for potential confounders of BQL Index scores. Standardised β coefficients were reported and a significant two-sided p value was set at 0.05 or less. All statistical modelling was performed using SAS V. 9.2 software (Cary, North Carolina, USA). Graphing was done using the JMP V. 8 software (SAS Institute).

Power analysis for two means was conducted using SAS Power and Sample Size application to determine a sufficient sample size for an 8% difference in BQL Index scores between the prebariatric control group and the weight-regain group, with α of 0.05 and power of 0.80. Since there have been no studies evaluating the effect of weight regain after bariatric surgery on the change in QoL, we estimated that this effect based on a previous prospective cohort study of patients with weight regain after pharmacotherapy and lifestyle therapy.¹⁵ Specifically, this previous study showed that patients who regained weight after initial weight loss with pharmacotherapy and lifestyle therapy had a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) score than that at the nadir weight by 4.8%, and a higher HRQOL score than their baseline HRQOL score by 8.4%. Based on the aforementioned assumptions, the desired sample size was 36.

RESULTS

Part I: Association between weight regain and BQL

A total of 56 consecutive RYGB patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 41 (73%) had weight regain. Baseline characteristics of the weight-regain and weight-stable cohorts are shown in table 1. Specifically, age and sex distributions were similar between the weight-regain and weight-stable cohorts. However, the weight-regain group had a higher BMI and had a greater time duration from RYGB compared with the weight-stable group at the time of BQL assessment. When compared with the prebariatric control group, the weight-regain group appeared to be older and had lower BMI (table 1). Additionally, patients were assessed by year from RYGB as shown in figure 3.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics

	Weight-regain cohort (n=41)	Weight-stable cohort (n=15)	Presurgical obese control (n=133)	p Value*	p Value†
Age (years) mean±SD	49±9.5	49±11	37.6±12	1.00	<0.0001
Female (%)	93	87	81	0.49	0.08
BMI (kg/m2) mean±SD	39.7±6.8	31±5.8	47.2±7.6	<0.0001	<0.0001
Years from RYGB (years) (mean±SD)	7.0±3.8	2.2±0.9	-	<0.0001	-
Weight regain (%) mean±SD	44.7±4.8	4.5±4.8	-	<0.0001	-

*Comparison between the weight-regain cohort and weight-stable cohort.

†Comparison between the weight-regain cohort and the presurgical obese control.

BMI, body mass index; RYGB, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Figure 3.

Amount of weight regain in patients who were <5, 5–10 and >10 years post-RYGB. RYGB, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

The BQL Index scores of the weight-regain, weight-stable and prebariatric groups are shown in table 2. Overall, the weight-regain group had significantly lower BQL Index scores than those of the weight-stable group (p<0.001). When compared with the prebariatric control, the weight-regain group had similar BQL Index scores (p=0.144) despite having a lower BMI (39.7±6.8 vs 47.2±7.6, respectively).

Table 2.

Bariatric Quality of Life (BQL) Index scores

	Weight-regain cohort (n=41)	Weight-stable cohort (n=15)	Presurgical obese control (n=133)	p Value*	p Value†
BQL Index score mean±SD	44.8±6	53±7	41.6±10.4	<0.001	0.144

*Comparison between the weight-regain cohort and weight-stable cohort.

†Comparison between the weight-regain cohort and the presurgical obese control.

Part II: Predictors of BQL

On a univariate linear regression analysis, years from RYGB, BMI and weight regain were associated with BQL Index scores (β=−0.55,–0.52, −0.7, respectively; p<0.0001 for all). Age was not a significant predictor of BQL Index scores. On a multivariate linear regression, only weight regain remained a significant predictor of BQL Index scores (β=−0.56; p=0.001) after controlling for age, years from RYGB and BMI (table 3). Years from RYGB and BMI were no longer associated with BQL Index scores after controlling for potential confounders. As demonstrated in figure 4, the association between weight regain and BQL Index scores was of a linear relationship with a negative Pearson correlation coefficient, which suggested that a greater amount of weight regain was associated with a lower BQL Index score.

Table 3.

Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses of variables associated with BQL Index scores

	Univariate		Multivariate
	Standardised β coefficient	p-value	Standardised β coefficient	p Value
Age	0.054	0.71	−0.16	0.16
Years from RYGB	−0.55	< 0.0001	−0.09	0.60
BMI	−0.52	< 0.0001	−0.20	0.15
Weight regain	−0.7	< 0.0001	−0.56	0.001

BMI, body mass index; BQL, Bariatric Quality of Life; RYGB, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Figure 4.

Scatter plot with best-fit linear regression line and 95% CI of the association between weight regain and Bariatric Quality of Life (BQL) Index scores. 

Discussion

Weight regain is not infrequent after RYGB and may be associated with recurrence of presurgical comorbid conditions.²⁰ In this study, we demonstrate that in addition to a return of comorbid illnesses, weight regain is also associated with worsening QoL. Specifically, the study shows that bariatric patients who regain at least 15% of the maximal weight lost seem to have similar QoL as patients with morbid obesity who have not undergone bariatric surgery despite an overall weight loss and a lower BMI. Additionally, our study also shows that the amount of weight regain is negatively and linearly correlated with postbariatric QoL.

This study is the first to demonstrate an association between weight regain following RYGB and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Previous studies have demonstrated that RYGB led to an improvement in QoL. However, none have clarified the impact of weight regain. In Schauer et al, HRQL was reported as one of the secondary outcomes. In this study, patients in the RYGB group had a significantly higher HRQL compared with those in the medical-therapy group.¹³ Similarly, the Swedish Obese Subject study demonstrated that HRQL improved after RYGB and peaked at 0.5 to 1 year. Subsequently, HRQL declined, which was hypothesised to be related to weight regain.¹⁴ This concept had remained to be proven.

Our study emphasises the importance of frequent assessment of QoL after bariatric surgery, or any weight loss intervention. Compared with other reported outcomes such as weight loss or resolution of obesity-related comorbid illnesses, QoL has usually been underused in both clinical and research settings. As demonstrated in the first part of our study, QoL of the weight-regain group with a BMI of 39.7±6.8 is as low as that of the prebariatric group who has a significantly higher BMI of 47.2±7.6. If BMI or a change in BMI alone was the only reported outcome, one might not have detected the negative impact that the bariatric surgery, specifically weight regain following bariatric surgery, had on patients’ life.

By demonstrating that weight regain is associated with worsening QoL, this study also highlights the importance of early recognition and prompt response to weight regain. As mentioned earlier, weight regain is a common complication after RYGB. It is approximated that 30%–35% of lost weight is regained after 1 year following bariatric surgery and that 50% of patients will return to their baseline weight after 5 years.²¹ Despite its prevalence, exact aetiologies of weight regain remain unclear. Behavioural, medical and anatomical factors have been proposed to play a role.^{22 23} Behavioural factors may include nutritional habits and psychological factors. Possible medical factors include hypothyroidism, anaemia, genetics, microbiota and orthopaedic status. From an anatomical standpoint, the presence of a gastrogastric fistula and dilated gastrojejunal aperture (GJA) has previously been demonstrated to be associated with weight regain.^24–26 It is important to address all behavioural and medical causes prior to considering procedural interventions. Some surgical and endoscopic techniques developed to treat weight regain focus on treating these anatomical factors. While surgical revision has traditionally been used to treat weight regain, the procedure is associated with limited efficacy data and higher complication rates than that of the index surgery.^27–30 Alternatively, endoscopic techniques have recently been developed to treat weight regain. These include sclerotherapy where sodium morrhuate is injected around the GJA to reduce the GJA size,^{31 32} argon plasma coagulation,^{33 34} endoscopic plication and endoscopic suturing to close a small gastrogastric fistula and/or to reduce the size of the GJA.^35–39 A recent multicentre, randomised, blinded, sham-controlled trial has provided level I evidence to support the use of sutured TORe procedure to treat weight regain following RYGB. In this study, a superficial suction-based suturing device was used.⁴⁰ A more recent study has shown that a new full-thickness suturing device provides a greater and more durable weight loss compared with the device studied in the randomised controlled trial.⁴¹ Furthermore, longer term data with 3-year follow-up has confirmed the durability of this procedure.⁴²

In addition to identifying and intervening on the anatomical risk factors for weight regain, it is equally important to pay attention to and provide support for behavioural and psychological aspects of weight regain.⁴³ This is best accomplished via a multidisciplinary approach, where bariatric surgeons, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, psychiatrists, dieticians and physical therapists all work together to directly address the effect that weight regain may have on QoL in order to maximise the likelihood of successful outcomes.

One limitation of this study is the lack of established definition of weight regain in the current literature.⁴⁴ Our study uses a cut-off of 15% or greater as the definition of significant weight regain. This is based on literature review, which reveals that previous studies have defined weight regain as gaining of a range of 5% to 30% or greater of maximal weight initially lost.^{16 17} With the cut-off of 15% or greater, our study is able to show the difference in BQL Index scores between those with and without weight regain and demonstrate an association between weight regain and QoL regardless of age, BMI and years from RYGB. This suggests that a gain of at least 15% of maximal weight loss is clinically significant. A prospective study to further evaluate the effect of different levels of weight regain on QoL and health metrics is needed. Additionally, in our study, 73% of the RYGB patients consecutively recruited had weight regain. This number was higher than the prevalence of weight regain reported in previous studies. This could be due to the retrospective nature of the study, and the fact that those with weight regain were more likely to seek medical care at a later date. Additionally, this was in part due to the revisional procedure expertise of one surgeon in the Bariatric Centre of Excellence. Furthermore, the number of patients within each group—the weight-regain (n=41), weight-stable (n=15) and prebariatric surgery (n=133) groups—varied. Nevertheless, the study is powered to detect a difference in QoL levels between the weight-regain and prebariatric surgery groups, based on a previous study showing the change in QoL of patients who regained weight after pharmacotherapy and lifestyle intervention.

With a rise in the obesity pandemic, the number of bariatric surgeries being performed and their complications including weight regain will continue to increase. Understanding the negative impact that weight regain has on bariatric patients’ QoL highlights the importance of close and long-term follow-up postbariatric surgery. Additionally, early recognition of weight regain is essential and a multidisciplinary approach should be administered to address weight regain in order to optimise postbariatric care. Gastroenterologists should become more familiar with endoscopic treatment options to better help this patient population.