@article {Mathus-Vliegen:November 2006:0960-8923:1508,
	author = "Mathus-Vliegen, Elisabeth",
	title = "Long-Term Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery in Patients Visited at Home Outside the Study Environment",
	journal = "Obesity Surgery",
	volume = "16",
	year = "November 2006",
	abstract = "Background: Bariatric surgery results in sustained weight loss in the majority of patients. The controlled setting of a trial, however, does not necessarily reflect the everyday routine practice. Therefore, to investigate the results of bariatric surgery in a more natural setting, patients were visited at home, outside a study and hospital environment. Methods: Patients who underwent a vertical banded gastroplasty or a gastric bypass between 1980 and 1997 were eligible. Body weight and height were measured. Patients filled out general and health status questionnaires (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)). Results: Responses were obtained from 236/313 subjects (75%) with a mean &#177; SD age of 42.9 &#177; 10.2 years and a mean current body weight of 100.3 &#177; 20.7 kg. A maximum weight loss of 48.2 &#177; 18.4 kg or 70.8 &#177; 22.4% excess weight loss was obtained after 17 &#177; 15 months, of which 32.1 &#177; 22.6 kg or 45.2 &#177; 29.3%, respectively, was maintained at 8.2 &#177; 4.5 years after the intervention. Males and females did not differ in weight loss. The type of operation had no influence. Age &#62;50 years and a BMI &#62;50 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP> were not related to a poor outcome, but a time lapse of &#62;5 years since the operation resulted in a less well sustained weight loss. The subjective health status improved considerably, but less so with a smaller weight loss and longer lapse of time since the operation. Especially in females, the NHP still deviated substantially from Dutch norm values. Conclusions: Surgically obtained weight loss is satisfactory in patients outside a strictly controlled study setting. Health benefits are substantial, but are adversely affected by weight gain and time elapsed since the operation.",
	pages = "1508-1519(12)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/os/2006/00000016/00000011/00000256"
	doi = "doi:10.1381/096089206778870003"
}