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Suboptimal Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery: Mechanisms and Treatment Algorithms

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Obesity, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

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Abstract

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity; however, on an individual level, weight loss is highly variable. Improvements in weight-related comorbidities following bariatric surgery are related to the amount of weight loss achieved. Therefore, it is important to maximize weight loss. Cases of insufficient weight loss after bariatric surgery include those who have never achieved a good weight loss response from surgery (primary suboptimal responder) and those who had a good initial weight loss and then experienced weight regain (secondary suboptimal responder). The etiology and biology and, therefore, treatment for these patients are different and remain one of the most challenging problems facing bariatric surgery as they are associated with failure of comorbidities resolution or recurrence of their weight-related comorbidities. Attempts have been made to determine preoperative characteristics of patients that predict postoperative weight trajectories and also the underlying driving biology. This chapter aims to summarize the current literature surrounding suboptimal weight loss and weight regain and current treatment options.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Obesity Research, University College London, London, UK

    Jessica K. W. Mok

  2. Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Jessica K. W. Mok

  3. Centre for Obesity Research, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, UK

    Rachel L. Batterham

  4. University College London Hospitals Bariatric Centre for Weight Management and Metabolic Surgery, University College London Hospital, London, UK

    Rachel L. Batterham

Authors
  1. Jessica K. W. Mok
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  2. Rachel L. Batterham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica K. W. Mok .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Homerton University Hospital, London, UK

    Sanjay Agrawal

Section Editor information

  1. Bariatric unit, St George’s Hospital, London, UK

    Omar Khan MA, PhD, FRCS

  2. Bariatric unit, Ashtead Hospital, Ashtead, UK

    Omar Khan MA, PhD, FRCS

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Mok, J.K.W., Batterham, R.L. (2023). Suboptimal Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery: Mechanisms and Treatment Algorithms. In: Agrawal, S. (eds) Obesity, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60596-4_118

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60596-4_118

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60595-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60596-4

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