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Background: Clinical practice recommendations for macronutrient intake in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) are insufficiently grounded in the research, possibly due to a paucity of research in key areas necessary to support macronutrient recommendations. An initial scoping review, prior to any systematic review, was determined to be vital., Objectives: To identify topical areas in macronutrients and MBS with a sufficient evidence base to guide nutrition recommendations., Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid Medline, and Embase were initially searched in January 2019 (updated November 1, 2023) with terms encompassing current bariatric surgeries and macronutrients. Out of 757 records identified, 98 were included. A template was created. Five types of outcomes were identified for extraction: dietary intake, anthropometrics, adverse symptoms, health, and metabolic outcomes. All stages of screening and extraction were conducted independently by at least two authors and disagreements were resolved via team discussion. Macronutrient-related dietary treatments were classified as either innovative or standard of care. Descriptions of dietary arms were extracted in detail for a qualitatively generated typology of dietary or nutritional treatments. Heatmaps (treatments by outcomes) were produced to identify promising topics for further systematic analyses., Results: We identified protein supplementation and "food-focused" (e.g., portion-controlled meals, particular foods in the diet, etc.) topical areas in MBS nutrition care with potentially sufficient evidence to create specific MBS Macronutrients guidelines and identified topical areas with little research., Conclusions: Clinical practice regarding macronutrient intake remains guided by consensus and indirect evidence. We detail ways that leadership at the profession level may remedy this., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Purpose of Review: This review explores characterizing candidates for obesity treatments including pharmacotherapy, endoscopic bariatric therapies, and metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), focusing on established clinical parameters for diagnosing obesity beyond body mass index alone., Recent Findings: Existing literature primarily provides rates for fat mass percentage (i.e., a marker for adiposity quantity), waist circumference (i.e., a marker for adiposity distribution), and C-reactive protein levels (i.e., a marker for adiposity functionality) among obesity treatment candidates. Limited data on abnormal values and sex-based differentiation exist. The literature indicates high central-tendency measures for fat mass percentage and waist circumference, while C-reactive protein levels vary. Data on the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (i.e., a marker for adiposity-related disease severity) is predominantly available for MBS candidates. Future studies in obesity interventions should improve screening and diagnosis of obesity by incorporating sex-specific considerations and providing abnormal value rates for measurements to enhance understanding of patients' characteristics., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Given the health benefits of carotenoids, it is crucial to evaluate their levels in patients undergoing malabsorptive procedures like one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). This study aimed to assess serum carotenoid levels before and 6 months following OAGB. Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary OAGB were analyzed. Data included anthropometrics, dietary intake assessments, and biochemical tests. Serum samples were analyzed for lipid profile and serum carotenoids, including lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, and lycopene. Data from 27 patients (median age 47.0 years and 55.6% female) were available before and 6 months post-OAGB. The median pre-surgical BMI was 39.5 kg/m 2 , and the median excess weight loss at 6 months post-surgery was 63.9%. Significant decreases in all carotenoid levels were observed over time ( p < 0.001 for all). A median relative decline of 65.1% in absolute total carotenoid levels and 12.7% in total cholesterol levels were found. No associations were observed between changes in clinical outcomes and carotenoid levels during the study period. This study reveals significant decreases in carotenoid levels within the first 6 months following OAGB. Nutritional intervention studies are needed to explore how incorporating carotenoid-rich foods affects post-surgery carotenoid levels and clinical outcomes.

Background: Weight bias toward people with obesity (PwO) is common in healthcare settings. Efforts to address weight bias in healthcare settings should begin during university studies. This study aimed to explore the effect of a multifaceted intervention on weight bias among undergraduate healthcare students., Methods: An open label randomized controlled trial. The intervention tool consisted of short video lectures on obesity, vignettes simulating interactions between health professionals and PwO, and open discourse with a PwO. The control group received a short-written document on obesity. Online questionnaires on Anti-Fat Attitudes ('AFA'), short form of the Fat-Phobia Scale ('FPS'), Weight Implicit Association Test ('Weight-IAT'), and knowledge about obesity were administered at baseline, 1-week, and 6-week post-intervention., Results: A total of 162, 152, and 146 students participated in the study at baseline, 1-week, and 6-week post-intervention, respectively. Their mean age was 25.8 ± 6.7 years and 88.3% were women. Means of AFA total scores and FPS scores decreased significantly over time only within the intervention group (P Time*Group = 0.002 and 0.014). Both groups showed a similar trend over time in mean scores of Weight-IAT (P Time*Group = 0.868) and knowledge about obesity (P Time*Group = 0.115)., Conclusions: A multifaceted intervention resulted in a significant reduction in explicit weight bias but did not yield any additional advantages over the control group in implicit weight bias and knowledge about obesity., Gov Number: NCT05482802., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an emerging metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) type used in both primary OAGB (pOAGB) and revisional OAGB (rOAGB). We studied ≤30-day outcomes of pOAGB and rOAGB and identified predictors of early complications., Methods: Electronic medical records of all OAGBs performed between January 2017 and December 2021 at a high-volume bariatric clinic in Israel comprising four hospital centers were scanned retrospectively using specialized data software (MDClone software, version 6.1). Data gathered were patients' characteristics, surgical procedure, and ≤30-day complications with Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors related to early complications of pOAGB and rOAGB., Results: A total of 6722 patients underwent a pOAGB ( n = 5088, 75.7%) or rOAGB ( n = 1634, 24.3%) procedure at our institution. Preoperative mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.6 ± 11.5 years and 41.2 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 , respectively. Early complications occurred in 258 (3.8%) patients (176 pOAGB and 82 rOAGB) and included mainly bleeding ( n = 133, 2.0%), leaks ( n = 31, 0.5%), and obstruction/strictures ( n = 19, 0.3%). CDC complications for grades 1-2 and grades 3a--5 were 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 0.03% ( n = 2). Age, operative time ≥3 h, and any additional concomitant procedure were independent predictors of early complications following pOAGB, while a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and operative time ≥3 h were independent predictors of early complications following rOAGB., Conclusions: OAGB was found to be a safe primary and revisional MBS procedure in the ≤30-postoperative day term. The most common complications were gastrointestinal bleeding, leaks, and obstruction/stricture.

This study aimed to describe nutritional and lifestyle parameters following one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). A multicenter study among OAGB patients across Israel ( n = 277) and Portugal ( n = 111) was performed. Patients were approached according to the time elapsed since surgery. An online survey with information regarding demographics, anthropometrics, and nutritional and lifestyle aspects was administered in both countries simultaneously. Respondents from Israel (pre-surgery age of 41.6 ± 11.0 years, 75.8% females) and Portugal (pre-surgery age of 45.6 ± 12.3 years, 79.3% females) reported changes in their appetite (≤94.0% and ≤94.6%), changes in their taste (≤51.0 and ≤51.4%), and intolerance to specific foods (i.e., red meat, pasta, bread, and rice). Bariatric surgery-related eating recommendations were generally followed well, but a trend toward lower adherence was evident in groups with longer time elapsed since surgery in both countries. Most respondents from Israel and Portugal reported participation in follow-up meetings with a surgeon (≤94.0% and 100%) and a dietitian (≤92.6% and ≤100%), while far fewer reported participation in any follow-up meeting with a psychologist/social worker (≤37.9% and ≤56.1%). Patients following OAGB might experience changes in appetite, taste, and intolerance to specific foods. Adherence to bariatric surgery-related eating recommendations is not always satisfying, especially in the longer term post-surgery.

Background: Long-term laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) outcomes in patients with obesity are scarce. We aimed to examine the outcomes and subjective experience of patients who underwent primary LSG with long-term follow-up., Methods: The study is a retrospective observational analysis of patients who underwent primary LSG in a single center with 5-15 years of follow-up. Patients' hospital chart data supplemented by a detailed follow-up online questionnaire and telephone interview were evaluated., Results: The study sample included 578 patients (67.0% female) with 8.8 ± 2.5 years of mean follow-up, with a response rate to the survey of 82.8%. Mean baseline age and body mass index (BMI) were 41.9 ± 10.6 years and 42.5 ± 5.5 kg/m 2 , respectively. BMI at nadir was 27.5 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 , corresponding to a mean excess weight loss (EWL) of 86.9 ± 22.8%. Proportion of patients with weight regain, defined as nadir ≥ 50.0% EWL, but at follow-up < 50.0% EWL, was 34.6% (n = 200) and the mean weight regain from nadir was 13.3 ± 11.1 kg. BMI and EWL at follow-up were 32.6 ± 6.4 kg/m 2 and 58.9 ± 30.1%, respectively. The main reasons for weight regain given by patients included "not following guidelines," "lack of exercise," "subjective impression of being able to ingest larger quantities of food in a meal," and "not meeting with the dietitian." Resolution of obesity-related conditions at follow-up was reported for hypertension (51.7%), dyslipidemia (58.1%) and type 2 diabetes (72.2%). The majority of patients (62.3%) reported satisfaction with LSG., Conclusions: In the long term, primary LSG was associated with satisfactory weight and health outcomes. However, weight regain was notable., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To describe gastrointestinal-related side-effects reported following the One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB)., Methods: A multicenter study among OAGB patients across Israel ( n  = 277) and Portugal ( n  = 111) who were recruited to the study based on time elapsed since surgery was performed. An online survey with information on demographics, anthropometrics, medical conditions, and gastrointestinal outcomes was administered in both countries simultaneously., Results: Respondents from Israel (pre-surgery age of 41.6 ± 11.0 years, 75.8% females) and Portugal (pre-surgery age of 45.6 ± 12.3 years, 79.3% females) presented mean excess weight loss of 51.0 ± 19.9 and 62.4 ± 26.5%, 89.0 ± 22.0 and 86.2 ± 21.4%, and 89.9 ± 23.6 and 98.2 ± 20.9% ( P  < 0.001 for both countries), at 1-6 months, 6-12 months, and 1-5 years post-surgery, respectively. Median Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale score was similar between time elapsed since surgery groups among respondents from Israel and Portugal (≤1.97 and ≤2.12). A notable proportion of respondents from Israel and Portugal at all time points reported 1-3 bowel movements per day (≤62.8 and ≤87.6%), Bristol stool scale categories which represent diarrhea-like stools (≤51.9 and ≤56.3%), having discomfort due to flatulence (≤79.4 and ≤90.2%), and mild to severe dyspepsia symptoms (≤50.5 and ≤73.0%)., Conclusions: A notable proportion of OAGB patients might experience certain gastrointestinal symptoms postoperatively, including flatulence, dyspepsia, and diarrhea-like stools.

Background: Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (BMS) is a popular weight loss intervention worldwide, yet few scientific studies have examined variations in preoperative practices globally. This study aimed to capture global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients planned for BMS., Methods: A 41-item questionnaire-based survey was designed and the survey link was freely distributed on social and scientific media platforms, email groups and circulated through personal connections of authors. The survey included eight parts: basic information; criteria for BMS; preoperative nutritional screening; preoperative weight loss; preoperative diets for liver size reduction; preoperative glycemic control; other laboratory investigations and preparations; decision making, education, and consents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and graphs were used for representation where applicable., Results: Six hundred thirty-four bariatric healthcare professionals from 76 countries/regions completed the survey. Of these, n = 310 (48.9%) were from public hospitals, n = 466 (73.5%) were surgeons, and the rest were multidisciplinary professionals. More than half of respondents reported using local society/association guidelines in their practice (n = 310, 61.6%). The great majority of respondents routinely recommend nutritional screening preoperatively (n = 385, 77.5%), mandatory preoperative diets for liver size reduction (n = 220, 53.1%), routine screening for T2DM (n = 371, 90.7%), and mandate a glycemic control target before BMS in patients with T2DM (n = 203, 55.6%). However, less than half (n = 183, 43.9%) recommend mandatory preoperative weight loss to all patients. Most respondents (n = 296, 77.1%) recommend psychological intervention before surgery for patients diagnosed with psychological conditions. Variations were also identified in laboratory investigations and optimisation; and in the aspects of decision making, education and consent., Conclusions: This survey identified significant global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary BMS. Our findings could facilitate future research for the determination of best practice in these areas of variations, and consensus-building to guide clinical practice while we wait for that evidence to emerge., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Emerging evidence suggest that problematic eating behaviors such as food addiction (FA) and binge eating (BE) may alter following bariatric surgery (BS) and impact weight outcomes. We aimed to examine the prevalence of FA and BE and their associations with weight outcomes 2 years post-sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Methods: Forty-five women (mean age 32.4 ± 10.9 years) who underwent SG and completed 24 months of follow-up were evaluated prospectively at pre-, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month post-SG. Data collected included anthropometrics, nutritional intake, and lifestyle patterns. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and the Binge Eating Scale (BES) were used to characterize FA and BE, respectively., Results: Pre-surgery FA and BE were identified in 40.0% and 46.7% of participants, respectively. Following SG, FA and BE prevalence was 10.0%, 5.0%, 29.4%, and 14.2% (P = 0.007), and 12.5%, 4.9%, 18.4%, and 19.4% (P < 0.001) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Women with BE at baseline gained significantly more weight from the nadir compared to non-BE women at baseline (P = 0.009). There was no relationship between FA at baseline and weight (P = 0.090). Weight regained from the nadir positively correlated with BES scores at baseline (r = 0.374, P = 0.019)., Conclusions: FA and BE tend to decrease during the early postoperative period, but remains in a notable rates return by 2 years post-SG. Moreover, pre-surgical BE was related to higher weight-regain. Proper management pre-BS should include a comprehensive eating pathologies assessment, as these pathologies may remain or re-emerge post-surgery and lead to worse weight outcomes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an emerging bariatric procedure, yet data on its effect on the gastrointestinal tract are lacking. This study sought to evaluate the incidence of small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) following OAGB; explore its effect on nutritional, gastrointestinal, and weight outcomes; and assess post-OABG occurrence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and altered gut microbiota composition. A prospective pilot cohort study of patients who underwent primary-OAGB surgery is here reported. The pre-surgical and 6-months-post-surgery measurements included anthropometrics, glucose breath-tests, biochemical tests, gastrointestinal symptoms, quality-of-life, dietary intake, and fecal sample collection. Thirty-two patients (50% females, 44.5 ± 12.3 years) participated in this study, and 29 attended the 6-month follow-up visit. The mean excess weight loss at 6 months post-OAGB was 67.8 ± 21.2%. The glucose breath-test was negative in all pre-surgery and positive in 37.0% at 6 months ( p = 0.004). Positive glucose breath-test was associated with lower reported dietary intake and folate levels and higher vitamin A deficiency rates ( p ≤ 0.036). Fecal elastase-1 test (FE1) was negative for all pre-surgery and positive in 26.1% at 6 months ( p = 0.500). Both alpha and beta diversity decreased at 6 months post-surgery compared to pre-surgery ( p ≤ 0.026). Relatively high incidences of SIBO and PEI were observed at 6 months post-OAGB, which may explain some gastrointestinal symptoms and nutritional deficiencies.

Introduction: Weight bias, stigma, and discrimination are common among healthcare professionals. We aimed to evaluate whether an online education module affects weight bias and knowledge about obesity in a private medical center setting., Methods: An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted among all employees of a chain of private medical centers in Israel (n = 3,290). Employees who confirmed their consent to participate in the study were randomized into intervention or control (i.e., "no intervention") arms. The study intervention was an online 15-min educational module that included obesity, weight bias, stigma, and discrimination information. Questionnaires on Anti-Fat Attitudes (AFA), fat-phobia scale (F-scale), and beliefs about the causes of obesity were answered at baseline (i.e., right before the intervention), 7 days, and 30 days post-intervention., Results: A total of 506, 230, and 145 employees responded to the baseline, 7-day, and 30-day post-intervention questionnaires, respectively. Mean participant age was 43.3 ± 11.6 years, 84.6% were women, and 67.4% held an academic degree. Mean F-scale scores and percentage of participants with above-average fat-phobic attitudes (≥3.6) significantly decreased only within the intervention group over time (p ≤ 0.042). However, no significant differences between groups over time were observed for AFA scores or factors beliefs to cause obesity., Conclusions: A single exposure to an online education module on weight bias and knowledge about obesity may confer only a modest short-term improvement in medical center employees' fat-phobic attitudes toward people with obesity. Future studies should examine if reexposure to such intervention could impact weight bias, stigma, and discrimination among medical center staff in the long-term., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The appropriate strategies to minimize skeletal deterioration following bariatric surgeries are inconclusive. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of preoperative vitamin supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical parameters in females post-sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Methods: Participants were randomized to a 2-month preoperative treatment with a multivitamin and vitamin D 4000 IU/d (intervention arm) or 1200 IU/d (control arm). Preoperative and 12-month postoperative follow-up evaluations included anthropometrics, biochemical parameters, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)., Results: Sixty-two females (median age 29.7 years and median BMI 43.4 kg/m 2 ) were recruited, 87% completed the 12-month follow-up. For the intervention and control arms, significant and similar reductions at 12-months post-surgery were observed in BMD of the hip (-6.8 ± 3.7% vs. -6.0 ± 3.6%; P = 0.646) and of the femoral neck (-7.1 ± 5.8% vs. -7.2 ± 5.5%; P = 0.973). For the intervention compared to the control arm, the 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) increment was greater after 2 months treatment, and vitamin D deficiency rates were lower at 3 and 6-months follow-up (P < 0.016). However, at 12-months postoperative, 25(OH)D values and vitamin D deficiency were comparable between the arms (P > 0.339). Predictors for BMD decline in the total hip were the percentage of excess weight-loss, age>50 years, and lower initial BMI (P ≤ 0.003)., Conclusions: SG was associated with a significant decline in BMD of the hip and femoral neck in young and middle-aged women, and was unaffected by preoperative vitamin D supplementation. Females who are peri-menopausal or with greater postoperative weight-loss should be particularly followed for BMD decline., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: The use of one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) has increased in recent years. However, the efficacy and safety outcomes of this procedure remain under debate. Here, we compare our early outcome and mid-term safety of OAGB with primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)., Methods: This was a retrospective study using computerized electronic medical records data of patients who underwent RYGB or OAGB as a primary procedure from February 2012 to February 2019 in our bariatric center. Data collected included demographics, weight-outcomes, adverse events, hospital readmission, reoperation rates, and mortality following both procedures., Results: A total of 314 patients were included (132 RYGB and 182 OAGB). Operative time and costs were significantly lower for OAGB (80 vs. 125 min, p<0.01 and 2018.8 vs. 2912.3 USD, p < 0.01, respectively), but length of hospital stay was longer (4.06 ± 0.67 days vs. 3.58 ± 0.79, p < 0.0001). At 12 months post-surgery, the percentage of excess body mass index loss was comparable between the two groups, but the change in body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the OAGB group. Early (< 30 days) and late (> 30 days) surgical adverse events were also similar between the two groups., Conclusion: Comparable short- and mid-term outcomes and adverse events are found for primary OAGB and RYGB. OAGB is not inferior to RYGB as a primary bariatric procedure for the treatment of obesity., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an established bariatric procedure. However, long-term data on eating and lifestyle behaviors and their effect on weight outcomes are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to examine these long-term behaviors and their associations to weight outcomes following SG., Methods: A long-term follow-up study (>5 years post-surgery) of 266 adult patients admitted to a primary SG surgery during 2008-2012 and who participated in a pre-surgery study was conducted. Data on pre-surgery demographics, anthropometrics, and medical status were obtained from the patients' medical records. Data on long-term health status, anthropometrics, lifestyle and eating habits, eating pathologies, follow-up regime, and satisfaction from the surgery were collected by an interview phone calls according to a structured questionnaire., Results: Data of 169 patients were available before and 7.8±1.0 years post-SG. Their baseline mean age was 41.8±11.3 years, and 71.6% of them were females. The mean post-surgery excess weight loss (EWL) was 53.2±31.2%, and 54.2% had EWL of ≥50%. Eating 3-6 meals per day, not having the urge to eat after dinner, separating liquids from solids, avoiding carbonated beverages, and performing physical activity were related to better weight-loss outcomes (P≤0.026). However, frequent need for eating sweets, binge eating, and feeling guilty or sad after eating were related to worse weight-loss outcomes (P≤0.010). Furthermore, only a minority reported taking a multivitamin and participating in follow-up meetings after more than 1 year since the surgery (≤21.3%)., Conclusions: In the long term following SG, approximately half achieved EWL of ≥50%, and physical activity, certain eating patterns, and eating pathologies were related to weight outcomes.

Bariatric surgery (BS) has proven to be highly efficacious in the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities. However, careful patient selection is critical for its success. Thus, patients should undergo medical, behavioral, and nutritional assessment by a multidisciplinary team. From the nutritional point of view, BS candidates should undergo nutritional assessment, preparation, and education by a registered dietitian in the preoperative period. Currently, detailed specified and comprehensive information on these topics is lacking. The present narrative review aimed to summarize the available literature concerning both the preoperative nutritional assessment components and the preoperative nutritional preparation and education components of patients planning to undergo BS. Current literature indicates that proper management before BS should include a comprehensive nutritional assessment, in which it is advisable to perform a clinical interview to assess patients' medical background, weight management history, eating patterns and pathologies, oral health, physical activity habits, nutritional status, supplementation usage, BS knowledge, surgery expectations and anthropometric measurements. Nutritional preparation and educational strategies should include an individualized preoperative weight-loss nutrition program, improvement of glycemic control, micronutrients deficiencies correction, eating and lifestyle habits adaptation, physical activity initiation, and strengthening knowledge on obesity and BS. At this stage, more well-designed intervention and long-term cohort studies are needed in order to formulate uniform evidence-based nutritional guidelines for patients who plan to undergo BS, including populations at higher nutritional risk. Moreover, postoperative outcomes of presurgical nutritional intervention programs should be studied., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

One anastomosis gastric bypass/Mini Gastric Bypass (OAGB/MGB) is an emerging bariatric surgery (BS) technique. We evaluated and compared attitudes of bariatric surgeons and dietitians towards the considerations for choosing BS-type ("Decision-making"), the contributing factors to the rise of OAGB/MGB in Israel ("OAGB/MGB-rise") and notions regarding the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and nutritional deficiencies following OAGB/MGB. Anonymous online surveys were distributed. The participants were asked to rate by a 10-point Likert scale (0 = not at all; 100 = very much/often) their attitudes towards "Decision-making", "OAGB/MGB-rise" and occurrence of GI symptoms and nutritional deficiencies following OAGB/MGB. For "Decision-making" and "OAGB/MGB-rise", items were considered prioritized where ≥ 50% of the group considered them as 'very-important' (rating ≥ 80). Data on age, sex, years-in-practice and main workplace were also collected. A total of 106 professionals participated in the survey (42 surgeons; 64 dietitians). The respective mean age, years-in-practice and sex were 52.3 ± 8.7 vs. 42.3 ± 9.0 years, 21.0 ± 10.8 vs. 15.5 ± 9.2 years and 85.7% vs. 3.1% males. The inter-observer agreement for prioritized items related to "Decision-making" was fair (Kappa = 0.250; P = 0.257) and both groups prioritized patient's BMI, comorbidities and compliance. The inter-observer agreement for prioritized items related to "OAGB/MGB-rise" was moderate (Kappa = 0.550; P = 0.099) and both groups prioritized ease of performance, shorter operation duration and failure of former restrictive BS. Surgeons reported lower occurrence of nutritional deficiencies and GI symptoms as adverse effects of OAGB/MGB (P ≤ 0.033). The study highlights the views of bariatric surgeons and dietitians concerning factors that underpin the rise of OABG/MGB in Israel and possible rates of GI symptoms and nutritional deficiencies associated with this modality.

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties, is thought to modulate enzymes involved in signal transduction, affect gene expression, and have immunomodulatory capabilities. Severe vitamin E deficiency is associated with neuronal disorders, impaired immune response, hemolytic anemia, and oxidative-based disorders. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery (BS), especially malabsorptive procedures, are at greater risk of developing fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. Current data on vitamin E statuses among BS patients are limited. Therefore, this systematic review has summarized the scientific literature on vitamin E and examined its status among patients following different types of BS. Searches of the MEDLINE and Embase databases were performed, followed by hand-searching of reference lists from all relevant papers. Of the 671 initially identified articles, 24 met the inclusion criteria: 1 study on adjustable gastric banding patients (n = 21), 4 studies on sleeve gastrectomy patients (n = 173), 12 studies on Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients (n = 689) and 12 studies on biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch (n = 799) or single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy patients (n = 163). Results suggest that patients who undergo malabsorptive procedures are at higher risk of developing vitamin E deficiency, although clinical manifestations of vitamin E deficits following BS are rarely documented. The optimal dose of vitamin E supplementation required for prevention of deficiency or for treatment following BS has yet to be established. Future observational and intervention studies are needed to bridge the gaps in existing knowledge., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the extent, quality and challenges of dietetic counselling during the pandemic., Design: A cross-sectional online thirty-six-item Google Survey. The survey queried demographics and information on usage and perceived telemedicine quality., Setting: The survey was distributed to Israeli Dietetic Association (ATID) mailing list between 31 March and 5 May 2020., Participants: Clinical dietitians, members of ATID, who consented to participated in the survey., Results: Three hundred dietitians (12 % of ATID members; 95 % women; mean age 4·41 (sd 10·2) years) replied to the survey. Most dietitians reported a significant ∼30 % decrease in work hours due to the pandemic. The most prevalent form of alternative nutrition counselling (ANC) was over the phone (72 %); 53·5 % used online platforms. Nearly 45 % had no former ANC experience. Both ANC formats were reported inferior to face-to-face nutritional consultation (consultation quality median scores 8 and 7, on a 1-10 scale, for online and phone, respectively). ANC difficulties on either phone or online platforms were technical (56 and 47 %, respectively), lack of anthropometric measurements (28 and 25 %, respectively) and interpersonal communication (19 and 14·6 %, respectively). Older age and former phone counselling experience were associated with higher quality scores, respectively (OR = 1·046, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·08, P = 0·005), (95 % CI 1·38, 4·52, P = 0·02). Those who continued to work full time had five-time greater odds for a higher quality score using online platforms (OR = 5·33, 95 % CI 1·091, 14·89, P = 0·001)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest telemedicine holds considerable promise for dietary consultation; however, additional tools and training are needed to optimise remote ANC, especially in light of potential crisis-induced lockdown.

Background: Food addiction and binge eating are common among individuals with obesity. However, a paucity of studies prospectively examined the prevalence and implications of food addiction before and post-bariatric surgery. We aimed to examine the prevalence of food addiction and binge eating before and after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and to assess their associations with behavioral and weight loss outcomes., Methods: We followed at 3 (M3), 6 (M6), and 12 (M12) months postoperative, 54 women who underwent SG. Data collected including anthropometrics, nutritional intake, food tolerance, and physical activity measures. The Yale Food Addiction Scale and the Binge Eating Scale were used to characterize food addiction and binge eating, respectively., Results: The mean baseline age and BMI were 32.1 ± 11.1 years and 44.9 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 , respectively. Pre-surgery, food addiction, and binge eating were identified in 40.7% and 48.1% of patients, respectively. The prevalence of food addiction decreased significantly up to M6, but increased to 29.3% at M12. The prevalence of binge eating decreased significantly through the follow-up up to 17.4% at M12. Those who met criteria for food addiction at M12 achieved significantly lower excess weight loss at M12 compared with those not meeting this criterion (P = 0.005). Food addiction scores at M12 negatively correlated with weekly physical activity (r = - 0.559; P < 0.001) and food tolerance scores (r = - 0.428; P = 0.005)., Conclusions: The reduction in food addiction observed at M6 was not maintained at M12. Food addiction at M12 was associated with poorer weight loss, eating, and lifestyle behaviors. Clinical practice should focus on the psychological aspects associated with obesity.

Background: Although bariatric surgery (BS) predisposes patients to development of gallstone formation, a preventive strategy is still in debate., Aim: To compare the incidence of gallstone formation between patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) vs. placebo for a duration of 6 months following BS., Methods: This multicenter randomized, double-blind controlled trial entails treatment with UDCA vs. an identical-looking placebo. The primary outcome was gallstone formation, as measured by abdominal ultrasound., Results: The data of 209 subjects were enrolled in the study, and 92 subjects completed the study and were analyzed (n = 46 for each study group). The high dropout rate was mainly due to difficulties in adding more medications and swallowing the pill. Among the subjects who completed the study, 77.2% were women, and their mean age and pre-surgery BMI were 42.2 ± 10.2 years and 44.4 ± 6.1 kg/m 2 , respectively. Gallstone formation was recorded in 45.7% (n = 21) vs. 23.9% (n = 11) of subjects among placebo vs. UDCA groups, respectively, p = 0.029. Subgroup-analysis, according to surgery type, found that the results were significant only for SG subjects (p = 0.041), although the same trend was observed for OAGB/RYGB. Excess Weight Loss percent (%EWL) at 6 months post-surgery was 66.0 ± 17.1% vs. 71.8 ± 19.5% for the placebo and UDCA groups, respectively; p = 0.136. A trend towards a reduction in prescribed comorbidity medications was noted within-groups during the follow-up period, as compared to baseline, with no between-group differences (p ≥ 0.246). Moreover, no between-group differences were found for blood test results (p ≥ 0.063 for all)., Conclusion: Administration of UDCA significantly decreased gallstone formation at 6 months at following BS. CLINICALTRIALS., Gov Number: NCT02319629.

Purpose: Nutritional deficiencies, particularly anemia, are commonly encountered following bariatric surgery. While anemia during pregnancy is associated with various adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, the factors associated with its occurrence following bariatric surgery have not been established. We explored the factors associated with the development of anemia during pregnancy after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of women who underwent SG and delivered during 2010-2018 in a single university hospital., Results: Of 121 women, 68 (56.2%) had evidence of anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL) prior to delivery, with significantly lower hemoglobin levels compared with those (n = 53) without anemia (median 9.9 vs. 11.4 g/dL, P < 0.001). Significantly lower hemoglobin levels were found among those with pre-delivery anemia, both at the pre-operative stage (median 12.9 vs. 13.3 g/dL, P = 0.02) and at early pregnancy (median 12.0 vs. 12.6 g/dL, P = 0.05), compared with those without anemia. In multivariate analysis, a lower pre-operative hemoglobin level was the only independent factor associated with pre-delivery anemia (OR (95% CI) 1.59 (1.05, 2.40), P = 0.03). The rate of blood transfusion was significantly higher in women with pre-delivery anemia than in women without anemia (7.4% vs. 0, P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Anemia during pregnancy after SG was common; pre-operative hemoglobin level was identified as an independent predictor of its occurrence. Efforts should be invested to implement anemia risk stratification before surgery among reproductive-age women, and to optimize maternal nutritional status prior to pregnancy, as well as during the prenatal course.

Background: Nutritional deficiencies are a well-recognized long-term complication following bariatric surgery. The presence of preoperative deficiencies has been shown to be predictive of postoperative deficiencies., Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in a large sample of patients with severe obesity preoperatively, and to determine whether such deficiencies may be related to patient's sex, body mass index, or ethnic subgroup., Design: A cross-sectional study of data collected at the time of the preoperative evaluation., Participants/setting: Data were collected during the preoperative evaluation of 872 bariatric surgery candidates in a university hospital in Israel between 2011 and 2018. The patients were 72.9% women, with a mean age of 37.9±12.1 years and mean body mass index of 42.4±4.7 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutritional deficiencies according to blood assays. Data on anthropometrics, comorbidities, and demographic characteristics was also collected., Statistical Analyses: Baseline differences between patient subgroups were analyzed using independent-samples t test, analysis of variance, or χ 2 test., Results: Deficiencies of vitamin D, iron, folate, vitamin B-12, elevated parathyroid hormone and low transferrin saturation were present in 75.2%, 42.6%, 28.5%, 8.5%, 35.5%, and 70% of patients, respectively. Nutritional deficiencies were significantly more common among women compared with men for iron (45.9% vs 33.5%; P=0.002), low transferrin saturation (77.7% vs 44.6%; P<0.001), vitamin D (77.5% vs 69.2%; P=0.019) and elevated parathyroid hormone level (39.5% vs 22.9%; P=0.002). Iron, transferrin saturation, and vitamin D deficiencies were more prevalent in Arab patients compared with Jewish patients: 59.6% vs 36%; P<0.001, 80.2% vs 62.8%; P=0.003, and 85.1% vs 71.6%; P<0.001, respectively. Vitamin D and iron deficiency were more common among higher body mass index subgroups (P=0.004 and P=0.040, respectively)., Conclusions: The results indicate a high prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, mainly of iron and vitamin D in bariatric surgery candidates. Patients at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies include those with higher body mass index, women, and Arabs., (Copyright © 2020 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) has been accepted as an effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, data are scarce regarding nutritional implications of this procedure. Thus, our aim was to describe the health and nutritional status 12-20 months following OAGB surgery., Methods: A prospective cohort study on patients who underwent OAGB surgery from January 2016 to May 2017 in a large, multi-disciplinary, bariatric clinic. Pre-surgery data including demographic details, anthropometrics, co-morbidities, blood tests and lifestyle habits were obtained from the patients' medical records. Follow-up evaluations were performed 12-20 months post-surgery and data collected included anthropometrics, blood tests, eating and lifestyle parameters, adherence to follow-up regime and gastrointestinal (GI) related side effects. In addition, patients were asked to rate their overall state of health (OSH) from 0 to 100 using a visual analogue scale (VAS)., Results: Eighty-six OAGB patients (72.1% women) were tested 14.7 ± 2.0 months post-operatively. Their mean age and BMI preoperatively were 46.1 ± 11.4 years and 42.0 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 , respectively. The mean % excess weight loss at 12-20 months postoperatively was 88.4 ± 19.3%. Lipid and glucose profiles were significantly improved at 12-20 months postoperatively compared to baseline (P < 0.001 for all). Relatively high proportions of nutritional deficiencies were found pre-operatively and postoperatively for iron (33.9% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.238), folate (30.9% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.004), vitamin D (56.6% vs. 17.0%, P < 0.001) and hemoglobin (16.7% vs. 42.9%, P < 0.001). Postoperatively, most participants reported taking multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 supplementation (≥62.8%), having participated in at least 6 meetings with a dietitian (51.8%) and presently doing physical activity (69.4%). The mean postoperative OSH VAS score was 88.2 ± 12.3, but most participants reported on flatulence (67.4%) and some reported on diarrhea (25.6%) as GI side effects of the surgery., Conclusions: Substantial improvements in health and anthropometric parameters are found in the short-term follow-up after OAGB, with a satisfactory reported quality of life and adherence to recommendations. However, a high prevalence of some GI side effects, nutritional deficiencies and specially anemia is a matter of concern., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Longitudinal assessment of body composition following bariatric surgery allows monitoring of health status. Our aim was to elucidate trends of anthropometric and clinical outcomes 3 years following sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Methods: A prospective cohort study of 60 patients who underwent SG. Anthropometrics including body composition analysis measured by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, blood tests, liver fat content measured by abdominal ultrasound and habitual physical activity were evaluated at baseline and at 6 (M6), 12 (M12), and 36 (M36) months post-surgery., Results: Sixty patients (55% women, age 44.7 ± 8.7 years) who completed the entire follow-up were included. Fat mass (FM) was reduced significantly 1 year post-surgery (55.8 ± 11.3 to 26.7 ± 8.3 kg; P < 0.001) and then increased between 1 and 3 years post-operatively, but remained below baseline level (26.7 ± 8.3 to 33.1 ± 11.1 kg; P < 0.001). Fat free mass (FFM) decreased significantly during the first 6 months (64.7 ± 14.3 to 56.9 ± 11.8 kg; P < 0.001), slightly decreased between M6 and M12 and then reached a plateau through M36. Weight loss "failure" (< 50% excess weight loss) was noticed in 5.0% and 28.3% of patients at M12 and M36, respectively. Markers of lipid and glucose metabolism changed thereafter in parallel to the changes observed in FM, with the exception of HDL-C, which increased continuingly from M6 throughout the whole period analyzed (45.0 ± 10.2 to 59.5 ± 15.4 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and HbA1c which continued to decrease between M12 and M36 (5.5 ± 0.4 to 5.3 ± 0.4%; P < 0.001). There were marked within-person variations in trends of anthropometric and clinical parameters during the 3-year follow-up., Conclusions: Weight regain primarily attributed to FM with no further decrease in FFM occurs between 1 and 3 years post-SG. FM increase at mid-term may underlie the recurrence of metabolic risk factors and can govern clinical interventions.

Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin, is involved in blood coagulation, bone mineralization, inhibition of vascular calcification, and regulation of numerous enzyme systems. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery (BS), especially procedures that involve a malabsorptive component, are prone to develop vitamin K deficiency (VKD). The causes of VKD include decreased absorptive surface areas, steatorrhea, bacterial overgrowth, marked reduction of carriers of vitamin K, decrease in vitamin K intake, and modifications of gut microbiota. Data on vitamin K status among BS patients are scarce and the strength of evidence supporting vitamin K supplementation is weak. Thus, this systematic review summarized the scientific literature on vitamin K and examined the status among patients before and after BS, as well as among pregnant women with a history of BS. A MEDLINE/Pubmed and Embase electronic search was performed. After a thorough screening of 204 titles, 19 articles were selected by 2 independent reviewers. Five studies on BS candidates (n = 750), 12 studies after BS (n = 1442), and 4 studies on pregnant woman after BS (n = 83, of them n = 7 from case reports) were included. Results of the current review suggest that patients who undergo major malabsorptive surgeries are at a higher risk of developing VKD and should be better monitored. At this point, it is still unclear whether supplementation of vitamin K is required, and what oral dose or vitamer type should be used to normalize serum levels after different types of bariatric procedures. It should be noted that the current protocols for VKD treatment are still experiential in these patients. It is also unknown at what intervals screening tests for vitamin K should be performed and what assay is most appropriate for screening purposes. Future studies are needed to answer these unresolved issues., (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Impaired sympathetic/parasympathetic response, expressed by elevated Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and inflammation. However, the association between morbid obesity and AChE and the changes in cholinergic tone following bariatric laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery-induced weight reduction were never analyzed., Methods: Two studies are presented; the first (the "apparently healthy cohort") was a cross-sectional study and the second (the "LSG cohort") was a prospective-cohort study with 12 months of follow-up. The "apparently healthy cohort" included 1450 apparently healthy participants who volunteered to the Tel-Aviv Medical Center Inflammation Survey (TAMCIS) during a routine annual checkup visit. The "LSG cohort" included 77 morbid obese patients before and at 3, 6, and 12 months following LSG surgery. Main outcomes included anthropometric measurements, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), serum AChE, insulin test and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA)., Results: Among the TAMCIS participants, serum AChE activity increased with BMI in a dose-dependent manner until it reached a peak level at BMI of 30-35 kg/m², followed by a plateau. Following LSG, a significant decrease in AChE activity between baseline and 12 months post-surgery was found for men, but not for women (-122.2 ± 135.3, P < 0.001 vs. -21.8 ± 120.5, P = 0.258 nmol substrate hydrolyzed/min per ml, respectively). The reduction in AChE activity was negatively correlated with %excess weight loss (EWL) and positively correlated with %body fat reduction at 12 months post-surgery among women (r = -0.329, P = 0.034 and r = 0.350, P = 0.023, respectively). In men, AChE activity reduction was positively correlated with the HOMA reduction (r = 0.358, P = 0.048)., Conclusions: Obesity-related AChE resistance phenotype may be reversed following LSG and correlates with metabolic outcomes. Further long-term studies will be needed to validate and evaluate the beneficial effect of AChE reduction post bariatric surgery.

Background: The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays a key role in the development of obesity and its comorbidities. Limited information exists on the changes in circulating eCBs following bariatric surgery., Objectives: This study aims to (i) assess the circulating levels of eCBs and related molecules and (ii) examine the association between their levels and numerous clinical/metabolic features pre- and post-operatively., Methods: Sixty-five morbidly obese patients (age 42.78 ± 9.27 years; BMI 42.00 ± 5.01 kg/m 2 ) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery, and were followed up for 12 months. Data collected included anthropometrics and metabolic parameters. The serum levels of the eCBs, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), anandamide (AEA); and their related molecules, arachidonic acid (AA) and oleoylethanolamine (OEA) were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry., Results: Levels of 2-AG, AEA, and AA were reduced post operatively with no differences in serum OEA levels. The delta changes in eCB levels between pre- and post-operation were correlated with the delta of different metabolic parameters. Positive correlations were found between delta AA and waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.28, P < 0.05), free fat mass (r = 0.26, P < 0.05), SteatoTest score (r = 0.45, P < 0.05), and ALT (r = 0.32, P < 0.05). Delta AEA levels positively correlated with WC (r = 0.30, P < 0.05). Delta 2-AG levels positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.27, P < 0.05), triglycerides (r = 0.55, P < 0.05), and SteatoTest score (r = 0.27, P < 0.05). Delta OEA levels negatively correlated with fasting glucose levels (r = - 0.27, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: This study provides compelling evidence that LSG surgery induces reductions in the circulating 2-AG, AEA, and AA levels, and that these changes are associated with clinical benefits related to the surgery including reduced fat mass, hepatic steatosis, glucose, and improved lipid profile.

Bariatric surgery (BS) may be effective for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients by reducing microalbuminuria and proteinuria, and by facilitating their meeting inclusion criteria for kidney transplantation. However, nutritional management for this population is complex and specific guidelines are scarce. A literature search was performed to create dietetic practice for these patients based on the most recent evidence. For the purposes of nutritional recommendations, we divided the patients into 2 subgroups: 1) patients with CKD and dialysis, and 2) patients after kidney transplantation. Before surgery, nutritional care includes nutritional status evaluation and adjusting doses of supplements to treat deficiencies and daily nutrient intake according to the dietary restrictions derived from kidney disease, including quantities of fluids, protein, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins. After BS, these patients are at major risk for lean body mass loss, malnutrition and dehydration because of fluid restriction and diuretics. Postoperative nutritional recommendations should be carefully tailored according to CKD nutritional limitations and include specific considerations regarding protein, fluids, and supplementation, in particular calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Nutritional management of CKD and kidney transplant patients undergoing BS is challenging and future studies are required to establish uniform high-level evidence-based guidelines.

Background: Although bariatric surgery (BS) is considered safe, concern remains regarding severe post-operative adverse events and mortality. Using a national BS registry, the aim of this study was to assess the incidence, etiologies, and risk factors for mortality following BS., Methods: Prospective data from the National Registry of Bariatric Surgery in Israel (NRBS) including age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, and surgical procedure information were collected for all patients who underwent BS in Israel between June 2013 and June 2016. The primary study outcome was the 3.5-year post-BS mortality rate, obtained by cross-referencing with the Israel population registry., Results: Of the 28,755 patients analyzed (67.3% females, mean age 42.0 ± 12.5 years, and preoperative BMI 42.14 ± 5.21 kg/m 2 ), 76% underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG), 99.1% of the surgeries were performed laparoscopically, and 50.8% of the surgeries were performed in private medical centers. Overall, 95 deaths occurred during the study period (146.9/100,000 person years). The 30-day rate of post-operative mortality was 0.04% (n = 12). Male gender (HR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.16-3.25), age (HR = 1.06, 95%CI 1.04-1.09), BMI (HR = 1.08, 95%CI 1.05-1.11), and depression (HR = 2.38, 95%CI 1.25-4.52) were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause 3.5-year mortality, while married status (HR = 0.43, 95%CI 0.26-0.71) was associated with a decreased risk., Conclusion: Mortality after BS is low. Nevertheless, a variety of risk factors including male gender, advanced age, unmarried status, higher BMI, and preoperative depressive disorder were associated with higher mortality rates. Special attention should be given to these "at-risk" BS patients.

Introduction: Best practices for patient education in bariatric surgery (BS) remain undefined. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of an online lecture on nutrition knowledge, weight loss expectations, and anxiety among BS candidates and present a new tool to assess this knowledge before BS., Methods: An interventional non-randomized controlled trial on 200 BS candidates recruited while attending a pre-BS committee. The first 100 consecutive patients were assigned to the control group and the latter 100 consecutive patients to the intervention group and were instructed to watch an online lecture of 15-min 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. All participants completed a BS nutrition knowledge and the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaires at the pre-BS committee and once again at the pre-surgery clinic. Body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, surgery type, marital status, and number of dietitian sessions were obtained from medical records., Results: Data for paired study questionnaires scores were available for 128 patients (n = 69 and n = 59 for the control and intervention groups, respectively), with a mean age and BMI of 40.3 ± 11.4 years and 41.3 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 , respectively. The BS nutrition knowledge and the state anxiety scores increased for both study groups at the pre-surgery clinic as compared to the pre-BS committee (P ≤ 0.028), but the improvement in the nutrition knowledge score was significantly higher for the intervention group (P = 0.030). No within or between-group differences were found for the trait anxiety items score. The "dream" and "realistic" weight goals were lower than the expected weight loss according to 70% excess weight loss (EWL) for both study groups at both time-points (P < 0.001 for all)., Conclusion: Education by an online lecture prior to the surgery improves BS nutrition knowledge, but not anxiety. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02857647.

Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective treatment for morbid obesity and its associated comorbidities. Following such a procedure, however, patients are at risk of developing metabolic bone disease owing to the combination of rapid weight loss, severely restricted dietary intake, and reduced intestinal nutrient absorption. Patients undergoing malabsorptive procedures are at a higher risk of postoperative bone health deterioration than those undergoing restrictive procedures; however, studies have demonstrated negative skeletal consequences of restrictive procedures as well. The clinical practice guidelines of some international associations have previously addressed preoperative evaluation and postoperative clinical care in order to maintain bone health in BS patients. Nevertheless, some issues regarding bone health in BS patients remain unclear owing to the lack of relevant randomized clinical trials, including doses of nutritional supplements pre- and post-BS. This review summarizes the current data regarding the skeletal consequences of BS and its mechanisms, with an emphasis on the preventive strategies and nutritional care that may be warranted in order to attenuate bone deterioration following BS.

Introduction: Various definitions for bariatric surgery (BS) success exist, with weight loss and comorbidity resolution outcomes being the most prominent. The study's aim was to compare how various healthcare professionals perceive success in BS., Methods: A 29-item, 10-point Likert scale online survey was distributed via email to Israeli healthcare professionals involved in the different BS aspects using common national professional organizations. These included bariatric surgeons, dietitians, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, and nurses. Statement relevancy to BS success was rated. An item was classed as "very important" for BS success if at least 70% of participants rated it 8 or higher in each subgroup. Inter-observer agreement was calculated using kappa statistics. Data on specific occupation, years-in-practice, and major workplace were collected as well., Results: A total of 155 responses was obtained. The majority of respondents were dietitians (34.8%, n = 54), followed by bariatric surgeons (31.0%, n = 48) and nurses (14.8%, n = 23). Most respondents work mainly at public hospitals (32.9%, n = 51), followed by private hospitals (26.5%, n = 41). The mean years-in-practice among all healthcare professionals was 8.5 ± 8.5 years. Overall inter-observer agreement for prioritized items in accordance to BS success among all health professional subgroups was fair (Fleiss kappa = 0.278, P < 0.001), while dietitians and mental health specialists showed the highest agreement rate (Cohen's kappa = 0.592, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The study highlights the various views on defining BS success by different healthcare professionals, although there was some overlap of core outcomes prioritized by all professionals. International uniform definitions for BS success are required.

Introduction: Data on vegetarianism and bariatric surgery (BS) are scarce. We herein describe the health and nutritional status of vegetarian patients who plan to undergo BS and propose combined recommendations for vegetarian patients who undergo BS, based on our clinical experience and current scientific literature in both nutrition fields., Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSG) performed at a bariatric center of excellence between January 2014 and November 2016 was carried out querying patients who declared a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle before surgery. Preoperative data collected included demographics, anthropometrics, dietary patterns, supplementation use, physical activity, smoking habits, co-morbidities, and blood tests. Each vegetarian was matched to five different omnivores based on age, gender, and BMI., Results: During the study period, 1470 patients underwent primary LSG surgery (63.7% females). Twenty-one declared a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle (1.4%) pre-surgery. Most were classified as lacto-ovo (57.1%) and were driven from ethical reasons (85.7%). No differences were found between vegetarian and omnivore LSG candidates regarding co-morbidities and nutritional deficiencies, except for lower prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (14.3 vs. 47.1%;P = 0.007), lower ferritin levels (54.3 ± 50.5 vs. 96.8 ± 121.8 ng/ml; P = 0.052) and higher transferrin levels (313.9 ± 42.7 vs. 278.4 ± 40.4 mg/dl; P = 0.009) among the vegetarian cohort. Preoperative use of vitamin B12 and iron supplementation was higher among vegetarian LSG candidates than their omnivore counterparts (57.1 vs. 6.7%;P < 0.001 and 23.8 vs. 6.7%; P = 0.015, respectively)., Conclusions: Vegetarians have comparable health status and nutritional deficiencies, lower iron stores, and higher supplementation use before surgery compared to omnivore LSG candidates.

Background: Data on adherence to postoperative lifestyle recommendations by bariatric patients are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to selected recommendations during the first year following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery., Methods: A prospective cohort study with 12 months of follow-up on 100 LSG patients was conducted. Data were collected at baseline and at 3 (M3), 6 (M6), and 12 (M12) months post-surgery and included anthropometrics, biochemical tests, food intake, food tolerance, common surgery-related side effects, physical activity (PA), supplementation, and number of follow-up meetings with a dietitian., Results: Data were available for 77 patients (57.1% women, mean age 43.1 ± 9.3 years and preoperative BMI 42.1 ± 4.8 kg/m 2 ). Only a minority of the patients adhered to the recommended protein intake ≥60 g/day at all time points (≤40.3%) and ≥6 meetings with a dietitian at M12 (41.6%). Half of the patients performed ≥150 min/week of PA at all time points (≤50.6%) as recommended. PA of ≥150 min/week was associated with better lipid and glucose changes at M6 and M12 (P ≤ 0.044). Most of the patients adhered to the recommended supplementation at all time points (≥57.1%). Adherence to supplementation at M12 was significantly associated with higher serum levels of folic acid, iron, hemoglobin, and vitamins D and B12 (P ≤ 0.056 for all). Adherence to all recommendations was not significantly associated with excess weight loss ≥60% at M12 (P ≥ 0.195 for all)., Conclusion: Bariatric patients have medium to high adherence to the major lifestyle recommendations during the first year following LSG; however, adherence to those recommendations was not related to better weight loss at short-term follow-up. Adherence to recommended supplementation was associated with better micronutrient status 1 year postoperatively.

Background: Data regarding long-term nutritional deficiencies following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are scarce., Objectives: To assess the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and supplement consumption 4 years post-LSG., Setting: Hebrew University, Israel., Methods: Data were collected prospectively from preoperative and 1 and 4 years postoperative including anthropometric parameters, biochemical tests, and supplement intake., Results: Data were available for 192, 77, and 27 patients at presurgery and 1 and 4 years post-LSG, respectively. Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies at baseline and 1 and 4 years postsurgery, respectively, were specifically for iron (44%, 41.2%, 28.6%), anemia (11.5%, 20%, 18.5%), folate (46%, 14.3%, 12.5%), vitamin B12 (7.7%, 13.6%, 15.4%), vitamin D (96.2%, 89%, 86%), and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) (52%, 15.4%, 60%). Vitamin D levels remained low throughout the whole period. PTH levels were 37.5 pg/mL at 1 year postsurgery and increased to 77.3 pg/mL at 4 years postsurgery (P = .009). Females had higher prevalence of elevated PTH and a tendency for higher rates of anemia, compared with males 4 years postsurgery (80% versus 20%, P = .025; and 28% versus 0%, P = .08, respectively). Of the patients, 92.6% reported taking a multivitamin and 74.1% vitamin D supplements during the first postoperative year, while after 4 years only 37% and 11.1% were still taking these supplements, respectively., Conclusion: A high rate of nutritional deficiencies is common at 4 years post-LSG along with low adherence to the nutritional supplementation regimen. Long-term nutritional follow-up and supplementation maintenance are crucial for LSG patients. Future studies are needed to clarify the clinical impact of such deficiencies., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and its associated metabolic complications. To ensure long-term postoperative success, patients must be prepared to adopt comprehensive lifestyle changes. This review summarizes the current evidence and expert opinions with regard to nutritional care in the perioperative and long-term postoperative periods. A literature search was performed with the use of different lines of searches for narrative reviews. Nutritional recommendations are divided into 3 main sections: 1 ) presurgery nutritional evaluation and presurgery diet and supplementation; 2 ) postsurgery diet progression, eating-related behaviors, and nutritional therapy for common gastrointestinal symptoms; and 3 ) recommendations for lifelong supplementation and advice for nutritional follow-up. We recognize the need for uniform, evidence-based nutritional guidelines for bariatric patients and summarize recommendations with the aim of optimizing long-term success and preventing complications., (© 2017 American Society for Nutrition.)

Introduction: Identifying eating and lifestyle behaviors prior to bariatric surgery may assist in better selecting and preparing patients and might lead to improved success rate. The current study aimed to assess eating behaviors and lifestyle trends among laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) candidates and to compare those trends between genders., Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the bariatric clinic at the Haifa Assuta Medical Center. Data was gathered from medical records of LSG candidates that were evaluated before surgery in our institution between 2008 and 2011. The data included demographics, comorbidities, anthropometrics, weight management history, and lifestyle parameters. Eating pattern and eating habits were determined by eating habits questionnaires., Results: A total of 266 LSG surgery candidates (71.4 % female) with an average age of 40.7 ± 10.9 years and pre-surgery BMI of 42.4 ± 4.8 kg/m 2 were studied. More than half of the patients have family history of obesity and their onset of obesity was before the age of 18 years (54.5 and 57.9 %, respectively). Most of the patients reported on poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle: 65.1 % do not eat regular meals, 70.3 % skip over breakfast, 61.9 % presented loss of control eating, 45 % frequently consume sweets, and 80.1 % were classified as none active. There were no differences in eating patterns or lifestyle parameters between genders., Conclusion: High occurrence of unhealthy eating habits and a non-active lifestyle were detected in morbid obese candidates for LSG surgery. More efforts should be directed towards nutritional and lifestyle education prior to the surgery.

Background: Low postoperative protein intake may represent a modifiable risk factor that leads to fat free mass (FFM) loss postlaparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), but data concerning this phenomenon is scarce., Objectives: To evaluate the association between daily protein intake and relative FFM loss at 6 (M6) and 12 (M12) months after LSG surgery., Settings: Private hospital and university hospital., Methods: A prospective cohort study with 12 months follow-up of 77 patients who underwent LSG surgery. Anthropometrics including body composition analysis measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, 3-day food diaries, food intolerance, and habitual physical activity were evaluated at baseline and at M3, M6, and M12., Results: Repeated body composition measurements and food diary were available for 77 patients (45 women) at M6 and for 68 patients at M12. Mean age was 42.7±9.4 years and mean preoperative body mass index was 42.2±4.8 kg/m 2 . A protein intake of≥60 g/d was achieved in 13.3%, 32.5% and 39.7% of the study participants at M3, M6 and M12, respectively. FFM significantly decreased at M6 and stabilized at M12. Protein intake of≥60 g/d was associated with a significantly lower relative FFM loss at M6 among women (8.9±6.5% versus 12.4±4.1%; P = .039) and this trend was also reported among men (9.5±5.5% versus 13.4±6.0%; P = .068). A logistic regression for the prediction of FFM loss of≥10% at M6, indicated that protein intake≥60 g/d is a strong protective factor (odds ratio = 0.29, 95% confidence interval .09-.96, P = .043)., Conclusion: Our study supports the currently recommended protein intake goal of≥60 g/d as an efficient strategy for better preservation of FFM post-LSG., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bezoars are collections of undigested foreign material that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. The most common are phytobezoars, which are formed from plant fibers, especially those related to the ingestion of persimmon. Patients who undergo abdominal surgery, including bariatric surgery for obesity, and particularly gastrectomy, are prone to bezoar formation due to reduced gastric motility, loss of pyloric function, and hypoacidity. Bezoars can form months to years postoperatively. Our objective was to review the published literature regarding phytobezoar formation after bariatric surgery. We investigated the entire scientific literature on phytobezoars as a complication after bariatric surgery using PubMed and Embase searches of all reports published to date. We used the following keywords: "phytobezoars" or "bezoars" and "bariatric surgery" or "laparoscopic adjustable gastric band" or "laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy" or "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass" or "single anastomosis gastric bypass" or "biliopancreatic diversion." Seventeen eligible articles were included in the study. We provide an overview of the incidence, classification, and manifestations of bezoar formation as a rare, late morbidity of bariatric surgery. Treatment options include chemical enzyme therapy, endoscopic dissolution and removal, or surgery. Nutritional counseling regarding bezoar formation and prevention of recurrence after bariatric surgery should emphasize changing eating habits, including sufficient drinking and chewing and avoiding the overindulgence of foods with high-fiber content, especially citrus pith and persimmons. Clinicians should be aware of this potential rare complication. Additional studies are needed to examine the eating habits and food choices of bariatric patients with bezoar complications and to elucidate more clearly the risk factors for this pathologic condition., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Two main causes for nutrient deficiencies following bariatric surgery (BS) are pre-operative deficiencies and favoring foods with high-energy density and poor micronutrient content. The aims of this study were to evaluate nutritional status and gender differences and the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies among candidates for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery., Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of pre-surgery data collected as part of a randomized clinical trial on 100 morbidly obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) admitted to LSG surgery at Assuta Medical Center between February 2014 and January 2015. Anthropometrics, food intake, and fasting blood tests were evaluated during the baseline visit., Results: One-hundred patients completed the pre-operative measurements (60 % female) with a mean age of 41.9 ± 9.8 years and a mean BMI of 42.3 ± 4.7 kg/m(2). Pre-operatively, deficiencies for iron, ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and hemoglobin were 6, 1, 1, 6, 0, 22, and 6 %, respectively. Pre-surgery, mean energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake were 2710.7 ± 1275.7 kcal/day, 114.2 ± 48.5, 110.6 ± 54.5, and 321.6 ± 176.1 gr/day, respectively. The intakes for iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B1 were below the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendations for 46, 48, 58, 14, and 34 % of the study population, respectively., Conclusion: We found a low prevalence of nutritional deficiencies pre-operatively except for vitamin D. Most micronutrient intake did not reach the DRI recommendations, despite high-caloric and macronutrient intake indicating a poor dietary quality.