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Lookup NU author(s): Sorena Afshar, Seamus Kelly, Anke Werner, Professor John Mathers
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
BackgroundBariatric procedures are increasingly being used to combat the rising obesity epidemic. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of these interventions on bowel habit.MethodsWe recruited obese adults listed for a bariatric procedure. Demographic data, medical history, medications and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Bowel habit was characterized using a 7-day Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) diary. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess diet.ResultsTwenty-six patients were assessed pre-operatively and at a median of 6.4 months post-operatively. Nineteen had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), five had a sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and two had an intra-gastric balloon (IGB) with median percentage excess weight loss (% EWL) of 67.9, 52.4 and 31.3 %, respectively. Dietary fibre intake decreased from 24.4 (±12.1) g/day pre-operatively to 17.5 (±7.3) g/day post-operatively (P = 0.008). Frequency of bowel motions decreased from 8.6 (±3.5) to 5.7 (±3.5) motions/week (P = 0.001). Mean usual BSFS score decreased (towards firmer stool) from 4.1 (±1.3) pre-operatively to 3.1 (±1.9) post-operatively (P = 0.016). Constipation increased from 8 to 27 %, but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.125).ConclusionsConstipation is a common problem after bariatric surgery. The decrease in bowel motion frequency and change towards firmer stools suggest prolonged intestinal transit time after bariatric procedures. Reduction in dietary fibre intake is likely to be a contributory factor.
Author(s): Afshar S, Kelly SB, Seymour K, Woodcock S, Werner AD, Mathers JC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Obesity Surgery
Year: 2016
Pages: 2348–2354
Print publication date: 01/10/2016
Online publication date: 19/02/2016
Acceptance date: 09/02/2016
Date deposited: 01/06/2016
ISSN (print): 0960-8923
ISSN (electronic): 1708-0428
Publisher: Springer Science
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2100-9
DOI: 10.1007/s11695-016-2100-9
PubMed id: 26894909
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