Does living in a food desert impact weight loss after bariatric surgery?

BACKGROUND

Lower access to fresh foods and lower income level are associated with greater obesity rates.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to study if weight loss 1 year after bariatric surgery is associated with living in areas defined as food deserts, that is, low access to foods and lower income.

SETTING

Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital System, Richmond, VA; Academic Center.

METHODS

Review of consecutive patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery in a single institution. Patients were studied in groups based the USDA Economic Research Service classification: low access (>1 mile grocery urban setting or >10 miles rural setting), low income (poverty rate ≥20%, or family income <80% of state), food desert (low income and low access), and food secure (neither low income nor low access).

RESULTS

A total of 396 patients had surgery, 89% female, 51% Black. Among those patients, 133 (34%) had LRYGB and 263 (66%) LSG. Twenty-nine percent, 26%, 22%, and 23% were defined as low access, low income, food desert, or food secure, respectively. Factors independently associated with inferior excess BMI loss at 1 year were LSG, Black race, being single, and obstructive sleep apnea.

CONCLUSIONS

Living in a food desert was not associated with inferior weight loss after bariatric surgery. It suggests that patients can overcome these barriers to attain appropriate weight loss 1 year after surgery.