Research Article Details

Article ID: A24353
PMID: 22974598
Source: J Pediatr Surg
Title: Patterns of surgical weight loss and resolution of metabolic abnormalities in superobese bariatric adolescents.
Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the baseline and the 18-month follow-up for weight and metabolic characteristics of superobese (SO) (body mass index [BMI] &#8805;50 kg/m(2)) and morbidly obese (MO) (BMI <50 kg/m(2)) adolescents who participated in a prospective longitudinal study of gastric banding delivered in an adolescent multidisciplinary treatment program. METHODS: Clinical information was extracted from an institutional review board-approved database of bariatric adolescents. Fasting cytokine and acute phase protein serum levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver histopathologies were assessed using the Kleiner's classification score. RESULTS: Other than BMI, MO (n = 11) and SO (n = 7) patients have similar degree of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Serum C-reactive protein (10.2 &#177; 5.6 SO vs 4 &#177; 3.9 &#956;g/mL MO [P < .02]) and leptin (71 &#177; 31 SO vs 45 &#177; 28 MO ng/mL [P = .04]) were more elevated in SO patients. Although weight loss is similar (30 &#177; 19 kg MO vs 28 &#177; 12 kg SO, P = .8 at 18 months; mean percent change in BMI, 22.8% &#177; 11.6% vs 20.5% &#177; 10.3% SO, P = .2), SO patients has less resolution of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia but experienced significantly improved health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The SO adolescents demonstrate equivalent short-term weight loss and improved quality of life but delayed metabolic response to a gastric banding-based weight loss treatment program compared with MO patients, illustrating the importance of early referral for timely intervention of MO patients.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.02.002