Study Indicates Support Group Attendance Improves Post-Surgical Weight Loss

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Diabetes;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 02 Jul 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Major scientific contributors within the bariatric and psychiatric industries publicized the results of a recent study demonstrating that LAP-BAND(R) patients who regularly attend support groups experience considerably higher rates of post-surgical weight loss. Authors Dr. Kathryn A. Kaiser, Dr. Susan Franks and Dr. Adam Smith discussed their findings at the 26th Annual American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Meeting.

Published last month in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (Vol. 5, Issue 3), the study divided gastric banding patients into groups based on frequency of attendance and then calculated the percent of excess weight lost 12 months after surgery. Results show that patients who attended four or more support sessions lost significantly more weight.

"While I am certainly pleased, I can't say that I'm surprised by the findings," commented Dr. Adam Smith of Fort Worth LAP-BAND(R). "Our practice has always been dedicated to the total care of the LAP-BAND(R) patient. As such, we maintain one of the most active weight loss support programs anywhere, which meets weekly. Previously, all of these investments were supported by the results and impacts that I, personally, was seeing with our patients. Any formal validation that we can receive and provide to the industry is just icing on the cake."

As Dr. Smith suggests, the study's observation offers important insight into the improvement and advancement of post-operative weight loss support available to LAP-BAND(R) patients. Currently, support group attendance is encouraged, but optional. The long-term impact of weight loss surgery for gastric band patients could be improved through stronger encouragement of support group participation.

About the Authors of the Study

Dr. Kathryn Kaiser is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar with the Section on Statistical Genetics, Department of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research covers the effects of gastric band surgery, issues related to various obesity interventions and resistance to weight loss.

Dr. Susan Franks, a clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor at University of Texas Health Sciences Center, studies psychosocial, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and disease. Her studies focus on chronic disease management (especially of obesity and type II diabetes).

About Adam B. Smith, D.O., FACOS

Dr. Smith has been an advanced laparoscopic surgeon for 13 years. In 2004, he opened Fort Worth LAP-BAND(R), a private practice dedicated to the treatment of obesity. Recently, he introduced a new procedural option to the North Texas region, Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS). Dr. Smith focuses all of his professional efforts on contributing to the bariatric industry through patient care, new procedural offerings, and obesity research.

More information about Dr. Adam Smith, Dr. Susan Franks, and Dr. Kathryn Kaiser can be found at http://www.FortWorthLapBand.com and http://www.hsc.unt.edu.

Source
American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery