Changes in the body composition after laparoscopic gastric plication: a short-term prospective case series.

BACKGROUND

While laparoscopic gastric plication (LGP) results in a rapid weight loss in the first postoperative months, changes in body composition after LGP have not been studied previously.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the body composition after LGP.

SETTING

A tertiary referral hospital.

METHOD: This is a consecutive case series. Body composition was measured using bioimpedance analysis with a Tanita BC-418 by 1 nutritionist. Weight, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and total body water (TBW) were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperative.

RESULTS

Sixteen consecutive patients underwent LGP. No intraoperative or major postoperative complications occurred during the follow-up period. No patient was lost to follow-up at any point during the study period. Mean postoperative total weight loss was 31 kg after 6 months, of which 25.5 kg (83%) was due to FM reduction. %FM was decreased by 15% after 6 months, whereas %TBW increased by 11%.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the weight loss caused by LGP is attributable to FM loss, and FFM loss is minimal after LGP. Therefore, LGP shifts body composition toward normal.