title: Association between support group attendance and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attending support group meetings has been linked to increased weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. However, the degree to which support group attendance influences weight loss is still unclear. This study quantitatively described the association between support group attendance and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
  
  
  METHODS
  The weight loss data and support group attendance of 78 consecutive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients were studied retrospectively. The patients were analyzed in 2 groups: those who attended >5 monthly support group meetings (group A) compared with those who went to < or =5 support group meetings (group B). The data from the first 12 months after surgery were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A achieved a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 10.5% at 2 weeks after surgery, 21.4% at 6 weeks, 30.9% at 3 months, 45.4% at 6 months, 53.6% at 9 months, and 55.5% at 12 months. Group B achieved a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 11.3% at 2 weeks, 21.8% at 6 weeks, 31.8% at 3 months, 41.3% at 6 months, 45.2% at 9 months, and 47.1% at 12 months. The differences between the 2 groups were significant at P <0.05 at 9 and 12 months. The weight loss was nonlinear and slowed as patients approached 1 year after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support groups are important for maintaining weight loss throughout the first year after surgery, especially after 6 months when the rate of weight loss from surgery begins to naturally decline. The amount of postoperative weight loss was greater than, or comparable to, the published data. Implementing regular support groups within the postoperative follow-up care may provide patients with the best chances of achieving maximal weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Weight Management and Bariatric Center, Department of Surgery, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. zirui_song@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Zirui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buzdon
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012944:Social Support; D015431:Weight Loss