ObjectiveTo explore the trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adolescents after metabolic bariatric surgery and to identify influencing factors. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 208 adolescents who underwent metabolic bariatric surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2023 to December 2024. Data on quality of life were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively, along with related scale assessments at 6 months. Latent class growth modeling was applied to identify trajectory categories of quality of life. Demographic characteristics and scale points were compared across groups, and unordered multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors. ResultsThree distinct HRQoL trajectories were identified by latent class growth model: low-level improvement group (102 cases, 49.0%), moderate-level stable group (74 cases, 35.6%), and high-level decline group (32 cases, 15.4%). Significant differences were observed among groups in BMI, percentage of excess weight loss (EWL%), points of body image, self-esteem, objective support, support utilization and appearance anxiety index at 6 months after operation (P<0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, patients in the low-level improvement group had the lowest BMI and the highest EWL%, along with higher body image and support utilization points. Patients in the moderate-level stable group experienced less weight reduction than those in the low-level improvement group, with only limited improvement in quality of life. Although patients in the high-level decline group initially had better preoperative quality of life, they showed the least postoperative weight loss, the lowest body image and support utilization points, and higher appearance anxiety points, with a progressive decline in quality of life. Results of unordered multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that postoperative BMI, EWL%, points of body image, and support utilization were influencing factors associated with HRQoL trajectories (P<0.05). ConclusionsMetabolic bariatric surgery improves quality of life in most adolescents, yet a subgroup experiences unfavorable trajectories. Postoperative weight loss, body image, and social support are critical determinants. Early identification and targeted interventions are needed to optimize long-term outcomes.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of DNA methylation before and after bariatric surgery.MethodThe relevant literatures of the research on the changes of DNA methylation level and gene expression regulation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsDNA methylation was an important method of epigenetic regulation in organisms and its role in bariatric surgery had been paid more and more attention in recent years. Existing studies had found that there were changes of DNA methylation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery. The degree of methylation varies with different follow-up time after bariatric surgery and the same gene had different degrees of methylation in different tissues, and some even had the opposite results.ConclusionsDNA methylation levels before and after bariatric surgery are different in different tissues. And studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up time are needed, to further reveal relationship among DNA methylation, obesity, and bariatric surgery.
Sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (SG-TB) was a novel bariatric and metabolic surgery that had received preliminary approval for its effectiveness and safety in reducing weight, improving diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. It showed promising prospects in clinical applications. However, SG-TB also faced some challenges including a small number of cases, insufficient clinical evidence, issues with anastomotic stoma and common channel design, bile reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and malnutrition. Further research is needed to enhance the standardization of SG-TB procedures and provides reference for its wider implementation.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) was recommended as the gold standard procedure for metabolic and bariatric surgery by the National Institutes of Health in the 1990s and then had been adopted till now, which could effectively control excess weight and treat metabolic diseases relevant to obesity in a long term. The current LRYGB procedure had been performed more than half a century of development and update, and is still constantly evolving. Standardized and precise surgical procedures are of great significance in ensuring treatment effect and reducing the incidence of complications. Thus, the author reviewed the development process of LRYGB, further understanding and emphasizing the importance of standardized and precise surgical procedures.
Metabolic and bariatric surgery has continued to evolve under the dual imperatives of efficacy and safety. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) with transit bipartition (SG-TB), derived from SG, reconstructs a “dual-channel” pathway that preserves the pylorus and proximal small-bowel function, while aiming to achieve metabolic effects comparable to biliopancreatic diversion with fewer severe nutritional complications. In 2025, the first Chinese expert consensus on SG-TB was released, and the inaugural international SG-TB consensus meeting was convened in Europe, reaching preliminary alignment on procedure classification, key technical parameters, and indications/contraindications. Emerging clinical evidence indicates that SG-TB confers advantages in weight reduction, remission of type 2 diabetes, and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and also demonstrates feasibility in revisional surgeries and complex cases. Nevertheless, current studies are predominantly observational, with limited evidence quality and considerable heterogeneity. Stratification of surgical parameters and establishment of reproducible training systems remain unmet needs. Building upon a synthesis of national and international consensus statements and recent clinical advances, this commentary further analyzes the challenges that SG-TB faces in procedural heterogeneity, evidence accumulation, individualized practice, and mechanistic research. This commentary seeks to offer practical reference and research directions for the bariatric community, ultimately supporting the advancement of SG-TB from a promising technique toward standardized and mainstream adoption.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of body composition in patients with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and know the factors affecting the effective weight loss. MethodsThe obese patients who received SG treatment at the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2019 to October 2022 were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The anthropometric parameters, lipid metabolism indexes, and body composition data were collected before surgery (1 d) and at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month after surgery. The risk factors affecting the effective weight loss were analyzed. ResultsA total of 170 patients were included in the study. ① The anthropometric parameters such as body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio at different time points after surgery as compared with the baseline (1 day before surgery) values were decreased (P<0.05) and showed continuous downward trends after surgery (P<0.05), meanwhile the percentage total weight loss and percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) indicators showed continuous upward trends (P<0.05). ② The lipid metabolic indexes such as triglyceride, total cholesterol, and uric acid, except for the total cholesterol indexes at the 6th and 12th month had no statistical differences as compared with the baseline value (P>0.05) and the uric acid was increased at the 1st month after surgery (P<0.05), the other indexes at different time points after surgery showed continuous downward trends as compared with the baseline values (P<0.05). ③ All the body composition parameters except percentage fat-free mass of the left and right lower limbs (P>0.05) at different time points after surgery as compared with the baseline values were decreased (P<0.05), and some body composition indicators, such as fat mass, percentage fat mass, visceral fat area, and obesity degree continued to decrease within 1 year after surgery (P<0.05). ④ There were 93 patients with reaching the standard of effective weight loss (%EWL was 50% or more). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the lower fat mass of right lower limb, the higher probability of effective weight loss [OR (95%CI)=0.452 (0.290, 0.703), P<0.001]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the fat mass of the right lower limb was 0.782 [95%CI=(0.672, 0.893), P<0.001], its sensitivity and specificity were 0.679 and 0.792, respectively, and the cut-off value was 7.35 kg. ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that SG can markedly improve the anthropometric and lipid metabolism indicators of patients with obesity, and achieve effective weight loss in a short-time. The body composition from the whole body to limbs and trunk might be changed. The fat mass of the right lower limb is closely related to the short-term effective weight loss after surgery and it has a moderate ability to distinguish achieving effective weight loss.
Objective To review the changes of gut microbiota after bariatric surgery and the related mechanisms of improving metabolism. Method Domestic and international literatures in recent ten years on the changes of gut microbiota in bariatric surgery and the mechanisms of improving metabolism were collated and summarized. Result The common bariatric procedures performed to date were vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The changes of gut microbiota vary in different surgical procedures, which were related to the changes of diet habits, gastrointestinal anatomy, gastrointestinal hormone levels and metabolic complications. The gut microbiota might improve the body metabolism by regulating the levels of short chain fatty acids, branched chain amino acids and bacterial endotoxin in the intestinal lumen. Conclusions Significant changes are found in gut microbiota after bariatric surgery, which may be involved in the improvement of body metabolism by regulating the level of bacterial endotoxin and microbial metabolite. However, more in-depth mechanisms need to be further clarified.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety of the incision along the upper umbilical margin (referred to as the “upper incision”) versus the transverse umbilical incision (referred to as the “transverse incision”) for single-port bariatric surgery, and to assess their effects on postoperative scar appearance and patient’s psychological adaptation. MethodsThis study was designed as a multi-center retrospective analysis. The patients who underwent bariatric surgery via the upper incision and transverse incision at the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from December 2024 to April 2025. The incidence of postoperative complications and the pionts of scar appearance (evaluated using the POSAS 3.0 scale) and psychological adaptation (measured with the BODY-Q scale) between the two incision methods were compared. Furthermore, multiple linear regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of different incision methods on points of scar appearance and psychological adaptation. ResultsA total of 194 patients who underwent single-port bariatric surgery were included, with 134 in the transverse incision group and 60 in the upper incision group. There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of incision complications between the transverse and upper incision groups [11.9% (16/134) vs. 18.3% (11/60), χ2=0.930, P=0.335]. The transverse incision group showed significantly better outcomes than the upper incision group in the overall points of BODY-Q scale [(39.86±1.02) points vs. (37.63±4.70) points, t=–6.090, P<0.001] and POSAS scale [(17.60±2.35) points vs. (21.25±6.00) points, t=5.239, P<0.001]. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as history of diabetes mellitus, education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, keloid tendency, and use of scar improvement products in the multiple linear regression model, the advantage of the transverse incision remained significant [β(95%CI)=–1.81 (–2.84, –0.78), P<0.001]. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the transverse incision significantly improves the overall appearance of the postoperative scar and enhances patient’s psychological adaptation compared to the upper incision in single-port bariatric surgery. This advantage persists independently after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Therefore, the transverse incision could be considered a more favorable approach in terms of cosmetic outcomes and patient’s psychological adaptation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery in metabolic surgery for weight loss.MethodThe literatures about stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery were reviewed by searching domestic and foreign literatures.ResultsIn recent years, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery had been gradually applied in clinical practice. Compared with other weight-loss surgeries, it had better clinical effects in weight reduction and blood glucose control. It not only provided a new surgical treatment for patients with severe obesity, but also promoted the development of weight-loss metabolic surgery.ConclusionAs a new metabolic surgery, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery is safe and feasible for weight loss.
ObjectiveTo summarize the progress of research on the interaction between bariatric surgery and intestinal flora at home and abroad in recent years, in order to provide new ideas for promoting recovery after bariatric surgery. MethodThe domestic and international literature of intestinal flora changes after bariatric surgery was searched and reviewed. ResultsThe main changes of the intestinal flora after bariatric surgery showed that the abundance of thick-walled bacteria was decreased and the numbers of Bacteroides and Aspergillus were increased. Some common complications after bariatric surgery such as anastomotic fistula, nutritional deficiencies, and inflammation were related to the intestinal flora imbalance. Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, or fecal microbial transplantation were expected to reduce the incidence of complications after bariatric surgery. ConclusionsBariatric surgery is a durable and effective method for treating obesity and its comorbidities. Changes in individual intestinal flora after bariatric surgery have an impact on both weight loss outcomes and postoperative complications, and it is important to find ways to reduce postoperative complications after bariatric surgery by improving intestinal flora.