Can response to dietary restriction predict weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastroplasty?

ObjectiveTo determine whether weight loss (WL) with 6 weeks of a low-calorie liquid diet as part of a behavioral program (LCDBP) predicts subsequent weight change in response to a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). MethodsOf 4698 LCDBP patients, 403 went on to RYGB and 222 were evaluable. We determined correlations between percent WL (% WL) in 6 weeks of LCDBP with % WL at 4, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks after RYGB. ResultsThere was a positive correlation between the slope of WL in the first 6 weeks of LCDBP and over 4 and 12 weeks after RYGB: r=0.15 (CI=0.003-0.285, P=0.045) and r=0.22 (CI=0.08-0.35, P=0.0017), respectively. The association was also apparent at 24 weeks in females but not in males. There was a statistically significant correlation between % WL at 26 weeks of LCDBP and 52 weeks postsurgery (r=0.20, CI=0.05-0.34, P=0.01). Finally, % WL at 6 weeks also predicted % WL at 26 weeks of dietary intervention (r=0.52, CI=0.40-0.62, P=2.40 x 10(-14)). ConclusionsWL in response to 6 weeks of LCDBP is predictive of weight for at least 12 weeks following RYGB.