Background
Although laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are coexisting first-choice
restrictive procedures for bariatric surgery candidates, it is possible, given their different modes of action, that these
procedures have different effects on quality of life (QOL). We hypothesized that improvement of QOL and comfort with food
could be better with LSG compared to LAGB.
Methods
This cohort study included 131 obese patients who had either LAGB (n = 102) or LSG (n = 29). Patients were assessed during preoperative and at 6- and 12-month postoperative visits. Five QOL dimensions were assessed
using the ‘Quality of Life, Obesity and Dietetics’ rating scale: physical impact, psycho-social impact, impact on sex life,
comfort with food and diet experience. We compared QOL evolution between LAGB and LSG using linear mixed models adjusted for
gender and body mass index at each visit.
Results
Excess weight loss was 28.4 ± 14.7% and 34.8 ± 18.4% for LAGB and 35.7 ± 14.3% and 43.8 ± 17.8% for LSG at 6 and 12 months
postoperatively, respectively. Both LAGB and LSG provided significant improvement in the physical, psycho-social, sexual and
diet experience dimensions of QOL. LSG was associated with better improvement than LAGB in short-term (6-month) comfort with
food.
Conclusions
Our results add further evidence to the benefit of LSG and LAGB in obesity management. Within the first year of follow-up,
there is no lasting difference in the comfort with food dimension between LSG and LABG.
Keywords Obesity – Bariatric surgery – Quality of life – Sleeve gastrectomy – Gastric banding – Cohort study