Background: By identifying common habits of the most successful long-term g
astric bypass patients, one is able to establish more specific guidelines f
or new patients to follow. The first postoperative year is a critical time
that must be dedicated to changing old behavior and forming new, lifelong h
abits.
Methods: 100 gastric bypass patients from 1979 to 1995 participated in a co
mprehensive survey. Surveys were completed in person, by phone, or in writi
ng. Participants were asked to answer questions regarding their eating, dri
nking, sleeping, exercise, and personal habits.
Results: The survey revealed that specific habits are common in gastric byp
ass patients who have maintained their weight loss for many years.
Conclusion: Identifying and defining the common habits of patients who are
successful with long-term weight loss enabled specific guidelines to be est
ablished for new patients to implement during the initial weight loss phase
, which will contribute to life-long success.