Poor diet quality and postoperative time are independent risk factors for weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

• Associated factors with weight regain were investigated in late postbariatric patients by multivariate analysis.
• About 24% of the patients presented significant weight regain after 24 mo of bariatric surgery.
• Postoperative time is an independent risk factor for weight regain after bariatric surgery.
• Diet quality is a protective factor for weight regain after bariatric surgery.

ObjectiveIn this study, multivariate analyses was used to investigate factors associated with weight regain long after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.MethodsThis retrospective study comprised 80 patients (88.8% female) with at least 24 mo of postoperative time. Weight regain was defined as an increase of at least 10% of the lowest postoperative weight. The following data were collected: demographic characteristics, eating behavior, food intake, diet quality measured by the Healthy Eating Index, level of physical activity, follow-up visit attendance, anthropometric history, and postoperative time. Multivariate logistic regression generated a controlled analysis, followed by calculation of the odds ratio (OR).ResultsThe mean postoperative time was 47.0 ± 18.0 mo. The mean pre- and postoperative body mass indexes were 49.8 ± 9.3 kg/m2 and 33.6 ± 7.2 kg/m2, respectively. Despite satisfactory postoperative weight loss, 23.7% of the patients regained weight. After controlling for confounders, only postoperative time (OR 1.08; P < 0.01) and Healthy Eating Index (OR 0.95; P = 0.04) remained associated with weight regain.ConclusionPatients with long-term obesity and poor diet quality were at high risk of weight regain. These results suggest the need of nutritional monitoring during the late postoperative period, paying special attention to eating patterns.