Energy metabolism, body composition and food intake in bariatric surgery

Abstract

Today obesity surgery is the procedure of choice for severely obese individuals because it promotes greater and longer-lasting weight losses and effectively controls chronic, body adiposity-related metabolic disorders, a serious and common global health problem. However, surgery results are not the same for all obese individuals. This may be related to adaptive metabolic processes with probable genetic implications. Previous studies have not found differences between the basal metabolic rate and food intake of women with different surgery results. In an attempt to elucidate other hypotheses and taking advantage of the favorable technical and scientific landscape, the objective of this project was to assess how factors associated with energy metabolism, body composition and food consumption influence the body's response to bariatric surgery 6 and 12 months after the procedure. This was a self-controlled clinical trial involving 22 women with body mass index (BMI) between 40 and 50 kg/m2. Total energy expenditure and body composition was determined by doubly-labeled water. The dietary intake and physical activity level was assessed through records of three non-consecutive days. Hopefully the study will provide answers to the hypotheses raised in previous studies and help with decisions regarding treatment and postoperative care. (AU)