Laparoscopic gastric banding as a universal method for the treatment of patients with morbid obesity

This study analyzed the influence of potentially negative predictors such as sweet-eating behavior, super-obesity, social and psychological status, family and education situation, intake of sedative drugs, and the distance between hospital and home on the outcome of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). 77 women and 29 men with mean age 40.6 years (28-47) underwent LAGB. Preoperative mean body weight was 146 kg (99-179), and mean BMI was 48.1 kg/m2 (36.4-73.5). The influence of the above-mentioned potentially negative predictors on weight loss was the primary end point. Mean follow-up was 44.6 +/- 19.7 months. Follow-up was possible in all but 6 patients. Median excess weight loss (EWL) was 52.1% (range 28.6-72.2%). Univariate analysis revealed no influence of the investigated negative predictors on the weight reduction. Median EWL in 24 sweet-eater patients was 55.6% compared to 55.4% in 82 non-sweet-eaters (P=0.65). A significant difference in the weight reduction was found between super-obese and non-superobese groups (P