Trial Lecture - time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- 1. opponent: Lecturer Anna Karin Lindroos, University of Gothenburg
- 2. opponent: Associate Professor Catia Martins, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- 3. member of the adjudication committee: Professor Jøran Hjelmesæth, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Stine Marie Ulven, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Associate Professor Anne-Marie Aas, University of Oslo
Summary
Weight loss and health benefits after bariatric surgery are well documented, but less is known about prevention of weight regain. The main aim of this randomized clinical trial
(n = 165) was to investigate the effects of a group-based lifestyle intervention program on weight regain and metabolic disturbances 2 to 4 years post-surgery compared with a control group that received usual care. The lifestyle intervention consisted of 16 group meetings, in addition to usual care, focusing on healthy diet, physical activity and behavioral changes to prevent weight regain. The study population before the intervention and 2 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) was described: Despite great weight loss and remission of metabolic disturbances, no changes were found in the proportion of unemployed participants and in the use of psychopharmaceutical drugs. After the intervention there was no difference in weight regain 2-4 years after surgery between the lifestyle intervention group and the control group. Neither was there any difference between the groups in dietary intake, physical activity, and metabolic disturbances. Factors associated with weight regain regardless of group allocation were weight increase from nadir, sedentary lifestyle, younger age and higher plasma concentrations of total cysteine at 2 years. On the other hand, physical activity, high intake of artificially sweetened beverages and smoking were inversely associated with weight regain. Our findings showed that this lifestyle intervention program had no effect on weight regain or metabolic disturbances 2 to 4 years post-surgery compared with usual care. A better strategy to prevent weight regain after RYGB may be to selectively target patients at risk of future weight regain such as individuals with a sedentary lifestyle, that show early tendency to weight regain and have high levels of plasma total cysteine, and offer earlier and more frequent follow-up to these patients.
Additional information
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