Disorders associated with clinically severe obesity: Significant improvement after surgical weight reduction

Background. Surgical treatment for patients with clinically severe obesity mainly aims to reduce morbidity. Methods. Sixty-two patients were examined for disorders associated with mor bid obesity before and after surgical weight reduction by vertical banded g astroplasty. All patients were followed-up for 12 to 48 months. Results. At the end of the first postoperative year, 84% of the patients ha d lost at least 50%:, of their excess weight. Of the 218 weight-related pat hologic conditions existing before the operation, 131 (60%) were completely cured, 50 (23%) showed significant improvement, and only 37 (17%) remained unchanged. The same percentages were obtained for patients followed up for 24, 36, and 48 postoperative months. Conclusions. Surgical treatment of clinically severe obesity has a signific ant effect on the health of the patients by eliminating the associated diso rders.