Weight Recurrence in Individuals Undergoing Bariatric Surgery According to Different Cutoff Points and its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk Variables

Obes Surg. 2025 Jun 21. doi: 10.1007/s11695-025-08010-4. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is effective in treating severe obesity, but weight recurrence (WR) after the procedure is a growing concern. The lack of consensus on cutoff points to define WR and its association with comorbidities is still a gap in the literature.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of WR obtained through different cutoff points in patients who underwent bariatric surgery and its association with cardiometabolic risk markers.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with patients who underwent bariatric surgery more than two years ago through the public health system from 2011 to 2019. Data collection was performed in person and remotely, with an assessment of anthropometric and metabolic variables. WR was analyzed in different percentages (15%, 25%, 35%, 45%) and associated with metabolic and biochemical variables.

Results: Ninety-five individuals participated in this study; 84.2% were women aged 43 years (range 22 to 66 years). Individuals with WR ≥ 15% had significantly higher insulin and HOMA-IR values vs. WR < 15%, while those with WR ≥ 25% also had reduced ferritin levels and higher TyG index values vs. WR < 25%. For the first time, it was observed that subjects with WR ≥ 35% had higher triglyceride levels vs. WR < 35%. No significant difference in metabolic variables was observed when WR ≥ 35% was compared with WR ≥ 45%.

Conclusion: WR ≥ 15% was associated with some cardiometabolic risk markers, and these remain as WR increases.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Cardiometabolic risk markers; Obesity; Weigh recurrence.