Effects of bariatric surgery on the body composition of adults

Efeitos da cirurgia bariátrica na composição corporal de adultos

Abstracts

The prevalence of obese individuals has increased worldwide in recent years. The most alarming cases are known as morbidly obese. An effective method to change the anthropometric characteristics of this population with excess body weight and high fat mass is bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to analyze the body composition of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. In a prospective cohort study, a group of morbidly obese patients was followed up 30 days before and 30 days after surgery. The sample consisted of 123 patients who underwent vertical banded Roux-en-Y gastroplasty between April 2003 and May 2010. Body composition (fat percentage) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The mean age of the patients was 36.1 ± 8.8 years and mean body weight loss was 14.1 ± 6.0 kg (p<0.001). The mean reduction in body mass index (BMI) was 5.2 ± 2.1 kg/m² (p<0.001). Body fat percentage and fat mass were reduced by 2.8% (p<0.001) and 9.7 ± 4.9 kg (p<0.001), respectively. In addition, there was a reduction of 4.4 ± 3.4 kg (p<0.001) in lean mass. We concluded that the surgical procedure significantly reduced body weight, BMI, fat percentage and fat mass and is an alternative when conventional treatments appear ineffective.

Adults; Bariatric surgery; Body composition; Morbid obesity

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effects of bariatric surgery on the body composition of adults

Efeitos da cirurgia bariátrica na composição corporal de adultos

Tiago Wally Hartwig^I,IV; Félix Antônio Insaurriaga dos Santos^II; Maria Cristina González^III; Airton José Rombaldi^I,IV

^IUniversidade Federal de Pelotas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física. Pelotas, RS. Brasil

^IIMédico e Especialista em Cirurgia Videolaparoscópica. Membro da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Bariátrica e Metabólica. Pelotas, RS. Brasil

^IIIUniversidade Católica de Pelotas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento. Pelotas, RS. Brasil

^IVUniversidade Federal de Pelotas. Grupo de Estudos em Epidemiologia da Atividade Física. Pelotas, RS. Brasil

^{Corresponding author}

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of obese individuals has increased worldwide in recent years. The most alarming cases are known as morbidly obese. An effective method to change the anthropometric characteristics of this population with excess body weight and high fat mass is bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to analyze the body composition of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. In a prospective cohort study, a group of morbidly obese patients was followed up 30 days before and 30 days after surgery. The sample consisted of 123 patients who underwent vertical banded Roux-en-Y gastroplasty between April 2003 and May 2010. Body composition (fat percentage) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The mean age of the patients was 36.1 ± 8.8 years and mean body weight loss was 14.1 ± 6.0 kg (p<0.001). The mean reduction in body mass index (BMI) was 5.2 ± 2.1 kg/m² (p<0.001). Body fat percentage and fat mass were reduced by 2.8% (p<0.001) and 9.7 ± 4.9 kg (p<0.001), respectively. In addition, there was a reduction of 4.4 ± 3.4 kg (p<0.001) in lean mass. We concluded that the surgical procedure significantly reduced body weight, BMI, fat percentage and fat mass and is an alternative when conventional treatments appear ineffective.

Key words: Adults; Bariatric surgery; Body composition; Morbid obesity.

RESUMO

Os últimos anos destacam-se por uma alta prevalência de indivíduos obesos no âmbito mundial, sendo os casos mais alarmantes conhecidos como obesos mórbidos. Um método efetivo para alterar as características antropométricas desse público com excesso de peso e elevada massa gorda é a cirurgia bariátrica. O estudo teve como objetivo analisar as alterações na composição corporal de pacientes obesos mórbidos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica na cidade de Pelotas, RS. O estudo se caracterizou por ser uma coorte prospectiva, acompanhando um grupo de obesos mórbidos 30 dias antes e 30 dias após a cirurgia. A amostra foi composta por 123 pacientes, submetidos à Gastroplastia Vertical em Y-Roux no período de abril de 2003 a maio de 2010. A composição corporal (percentual de gordura) foi determinada através de bioimpedância elétrica. A média de idade foi de 36,1 ± 8,8 anos. A perda de massa corporal média da amostra foi de 14,kg ± 6,0 (p<0,001) e a média de redução do índice de massa corporal (IMC) foi de 5,2 kg/m² ± 2,1 (p<0,001). Em relação às variáveis percentual de gordura e massa gorda, houve redução de 2,8% (p<0,001) e 9,7 kg ± 4,9 (p<0,001), respectivamente, ocorrendo, também, uma perda de 4,4 kg ± 3,4 (p<0,001) na massa magra. Concluiu-se que o procedimento cirúrgico implicou reduções significativas na massa corporal, no IMC, no percentual de gordura e na massa gorda, sendo uma alternativa a ser considerada quando as formas convencionais de tratamento se mostrarem pouco eficazes.

Palavras-chave: Adultos; Composição corporal; Cirurgia bariátrica; Obesidade mórbida.

INTRODUCTION

Obesity has been a worldwide concern since the mid-1990s and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate¹. According to the World Health Organization², there are more than 300 million obese people in the world. In Brazil, data from the Ministry of Health [Household Budget Survey (POF 2008-2009)³ and Telephone-Based Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL)⁴] indicated a prevalence of obesity of 14.5% and 16% in the adult population, respectively. Estimates show that in 2025, Brazil will be the fifth country to have problems of obesity².

Obesity is characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat as a consequence of a positive energy balance^5,6. The most alarming cases are classified as morbidly obese (grade 3 obesity) based on a body mass index (BMI) of 40.0 kg/m² or higher². Morbid obesity is frequently associated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and diabetes⁷.

Conventional first-line treatments for obesity include diet, physical activity, and pharmacological intervention. However, the results obtained for grade 3 obese patients indicate that these treatments are poorly effective, since in more than 90% of cases the patients seem to be unable to achieve and maintain a body weight loss of 5 to 10% over a period of 5 years^8,9. In this respect, bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective method for the treatment of morbidly obese subjects. Surgical treatment is indicated because of the lack of effectiveness of non-surgical methods and because the mortality risk of untreated morbid obesity is high¹⁰. It is well established in the literature that bariatric surgery increases longevity and improves the quality of life of morbidly obese patients through better control of comorbidities^11,12.

The benefits of bariatric surgery in terms of body fat mass reduction, improvement of comorbidities, and BMI reduction have been recognized^13-15. However, most studies followed up patients after surgery over periods of 6 months or more^14,15, whereas reports evaluating the short-term postoperative changes in body composition induced by bariatric surgery are rare, especially in Brazil. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to analyze the body composition of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil, 30 days after the surgical procedure.

METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES

A prospective cohort study was conducted in which the same group was compared 30 days before and 30 days after surgery. The sample of convenience consisted of 123 morbidly obese (grade 3 obesity or BMI > 40 kg/m²) patients who underwent vertical banded Roux-en-Y gastroplasty with or without gastrostomy (Fobi-Capella surgery) between April 2003 and May 2010. The patients were submitted to anthropometric assessment and evaluation of body composition.

For anthropometric assessment, body weight was measured with a Filizola platform digital scale (Model PL, capacity of 300 kg) to the nearest 0.1 kg. The weight was measured with the subject standing barefoot with the back against the scale and wearing light clothing. Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm with a 200-cm metal stadiometer coupled to the scale according to a standardized method¹⁶. The subject was asked to stand with the back against the stadiometer and to take a deep breath. The variables were treated as continuous.

The BMI was calculated as body weight (kg)/height (m²). The cutoff value proposed by the World Health Organization was used for the classification of nutritional status². Subjects with a BMI > 40 kg/m² were classified as morbidly obese.

Body composition (percentage of body fat and lean body mass) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis using a Quantum analyzer (RJL Systems®), with a frequency of 50 kHz, according to a standardized technique¹⁷. The absolute and relative values of lean body mass, body water and body fat were obtained for each patient in the two assessments, considering the lowest value of three measurements of resistance and reactance (implemented in the Compcorp® software).

Demographic data including gender, skin color and age were obtained by patient self-report and categorized as follows: gender = male and female; skin color = white and black/mulatto; age = up to 20 years, 21 to 30 years, 31 to 40 years, 41 to 50 years, and > 50 years.

The results were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, analyzed for errors, and then imported into the Stata 10.0 statistical program. For continuous variables, the results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine whether the data showed a normal distribution. Differences between means were evaluated by the Student t-test for paired samples. For categorical variables, the results are reported as proportions and differences were evaluated by Fisher's exact test. The accepted level of significance was p<0.05.

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Escola Superior de Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (Permit No. 12553013.4.0000.5313). The data were collected after the subjects had signed the free informed consent form.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 123 patients, including 94 (76.5%) women, and the mean age was 36.1 ± 8.8 years. Table 1 shows the distribution of the sample according to age and gender. The 31-40 year age group was the most frequent among men and most women were in the 21-30 and 41-50 year age groups.

The mean preoperative body weight of the sample was 125.5 ± 25.2 kg (range: 87.9 to 258.0 kg). After surgery, the mean body weight was 111.4 ± 22.8 kg (range: 76.4 to 226.2 kg) (p<0.001). The mean weight loss (relative and absolute values) was 11.2% and 14.1 ± 6.0 kg, respectively (p<0.001).

Table 2 shows the body weight loss of the subjects according to age. Most patients undergoing bariatric surgery were between 21 and 40 years of age. In addition, analysis of the weight loss categories according to age showed that in the 21-30 year age group, most patients (52.5%) lost between 10 and 14.9 kg. In contrast, in the 31-40 year age group, most subjects (53.8%) lost between 10 and 19.9 kg.

The body weight loss of the subjects according to gender is shown Table 3. The range of 10 to 14.9 kg was de most frequent weight loss category among men (27.6%) and women (49.0%).

The mean BMI was reduced from 46.1 ± 7.0 kg/m² before surgery to 40.9 ± 6.4 kg/m² after surgery (p<0.001). With respect to initial nutritional status (30 days before surgery), 107 (87%) subjects were classified as morbidly obese and the remaining ones as grades 1 and 2 obese. After surgical intervention, the number of morbidly obese subjects declined to 48% (p<0.001). In addition, 51.1% of the obese subjects were now classified as grades 1 and 2 obese and 0.9% were now classified as overweight. Figure 1 illustrates the percent changes in nutritional status according to gender.

Regarding body fat percentage and fat mass (Figure 2), statistically significant results were observed after the first month of surgery. Mean preoperative fat percentage decreased from 47.8 ± 6.3% before surgery to 45.0 ± 6.9% after surgery (p<0.001). Fat mass was reduced by 9.7 ± 4.9 kg 30 days after surgery (p<0.001). A fat mass reduction of 0 to 9.9 kg was observed in 68% of women and in 41.3% of men (p=0.02). In contrast, fat mass reduction ranged from 10.0 to 19.9 kg in 55.1% of men versus 28.7% of women (p=0.02).

There was a decrease in mean lean body mass from 65.4 ± 15.3 kg before surgery to 61.0 ± 13.8 kg after surgery, with a difference of 4.4 ± 3.4 kg (p<0.001). Analysis of the category of lean body mass reduction according to gender showed a significant difference for the category of 5 to 13 kg (22.3% and 68.9% in women and men, respectively) (p<0.001). The prevalence of women with a lean body mass reduction of up to 5 kg (69.1%) was higher than that of men (20.6%) (p<0.001).

DISCUSSION

A strength of the present study is the size of the sample which, although obtained by convenience sampling, is much larger than the sample sizes reported in the literature that do not exceed 20 patients^18,19. In addition, this study provides relevant information since few reports have analyzed the period of 30 days before and 30 days after bariatric surgery. A limitation of this study is the fact that body fat percentage and fat mass were estimated by a double-indirect method (bioelectrical impedance analysis).

There was a predominance of women in the present sample. This finding may reflect the higher frequency of morbid obesity among women^20,21, or even differences in the reasons for seeking treatment²². According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)²³, 71.3% of patients with grade 3 obesity are women. In a North-American population-based study, Cherala²⁴ reported a female-to-male ratio of 4:1 among subjects undergoing gastric bypass procedures.

Analysis of weight loss showed that a mean loss in the range of 10.0 to 14.9 kg was the most frequent in both genders, corresponding to a reduction of 11.2%. Few studies evaluating the same postoperative period are available for comparison of the results. Carey et al.¹⁸, studying 19 adult patients (14 women and 5 men) with a mean age of 40.5 years who underwent bariatric surgery at the University of St. Thomas, United States, found a similar body weight reduction of 8.7% (12.3 kg) one month after the procedure. Also in agreement with the present results, Laferrere et al.¹⁹ observed a body weight loss of 9.2 kg 30 days after gastric bypass surgery in a small sample of obese diabetic women (n=8) with a mean age of 44.8 years. In the representative sample of 160 patients studied by Faria et al.¹⁴, most patients were women (76%) and body weight loss was 22.7%, a value higher than that observed in the present study when the same postoperative period was compared.

It is important to note that most studies in the literature investigated longer postoperative periods than the period of 30 days analyzed here. In this respect, Trakhtenbroit et al.²⁵, studying 10 morbidly obese women undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at the University of Texas, United States, reported a difference of 18.6% (23.7 kg) in body weight between baseline and the third postoperative month. Comparing body weight measured on the day prior to bariatric surgery and 6 months after surgery in a sample of 15 patients from southeastern Brazil, Santos¹⁵ observed a reduction of 51.4% or 41.4 kg.

In the present study, the mean reduction in BMI was 5.2 kg/m², corresponding to a decrease of 11.2%. Similar results have been reported by Carey et al.¹⁸ and Laferrere et al.¹⁹ who obtained a reduction of 4.2 kg/m² (8.6%) and 3.5 kg/m², respectively, in the first month after surgery. Greater reductions in BMI have been observed in studies analyzing longer postoperative periods. Trakhtenbroit et al.²⁵ reported a reduction in BMI of 18.6% or 8.9 kg/m² three months after surgery. Santos¹⁵ observed a reduction in BMI of 27.9% (from 55.1 to 39.7 kg/m²) 6 months after surgery. Similarly, Faria et al.¹⁴, comparing baseline BMI and values obtained 7 months after gastric bypass, found a mean reduction of 25.9% (from 45.8 to 33.9 kg/m²).

The postoperative periods evaluated in other studies need to be taken into account. In this respect, greater losses of body weight and BMI were observed when longer periods after bariatric surgery (more than 3 months) were considered, a fact characteristic of this surgical procedure. The reduction in body weight and, consequently, in BMI is expressive immediately in the first month and tends to accelerate until the sixth month, followed by stabilization between 12 and 18 months after surgery¹⁴.

The mixed technique of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass permits average losses of at least 35% to 40% of initial body weight within 12 to 24 months after surgery²⁶. These significant losses render the subjects more susceptible to undesired reductions of lean mass. Although this study did not evaluate the importance of protein supplementation, this approach seems to be fundamental for the maintenance of muscle mass. In the present study, the loss of lean body mass was 4.4 kg. The study by Carey et al.¹⁸ is the only one that evaluated changes in lean mass after the same postoperative period. These authors reported a similar reduction of 3.6 kg. Studies analyzing longer postoperative periods reported reductions in lean mass of 13.7 kg (17.5%) and 6.4 kg (10.4%) after 6 and 3 months, respectively^15,25. The changes in nutrient absorption caused by surgery manifest in most cases as some type of nutritional deficiency. Low levels of iron, vitamin B12 and calcium have been reported in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass²⁷, a fact explaining these losses.

Finally, the reduction of body fat mass is the main objective of bariatric surgery. This is achieved by the creation of a gastric pocket with a capacity of 15-50 ml and these changes in the gastrointestinal tract result in an important reduction of calorie intake. As a consequence of lower food intake, Carey et al.¹⁸ observed a reduction of 2.3%, or 8.7 kg, in fat mass in the first month after surgery. Laferrere et al.¹⁹ reported a reduction of 1.8% in fat mass 30 days after surgery. These values are similar to those obtained in the present study. Fat mass reductions of 27.8 kg (40.5%) and 16.1 kg (24.4%) have been reported when the patients were followed up for a longer period of time after surgery (6 and 3 months, respectively)^{15, 25}.

CONCLUSIONS

Vertical banded Roux-en-Y gastroplasty with or without gastrostomy (Fobi-Capella surgery) significantly reduced body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and fat mass when the periods of 30 days before and 30 days after surgery were compared. Surgery can therefore be an alternative when conventional treatments of morbid obesity appear to be ineffective, since it improves variables that are directly related to the onset and to the development of comorbidities. Morbid obesity is associated with different comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammatory markers. In this respect, the fat mass loss induced by bariatric surgery may directly attenuate non-communicable diseases.

Received: 17 March 2013

Accepted: 16 May 2013

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 Nov 2013
• Date of issue
  Dec 2013

History

• Received
  17 Mar 2013
• Accepted
  16 May 2013