Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The global uptake of bariatric surgery in men, despite high prevalence of morbid obesity and associated co-morbidities, is significantly lower compared to women. It is unclear if this is due to a perception of poorer outcomes in men. AimsTo compare weight loss and metabolic outcomes in men versus women after bariatric surgery.

Design and methods: We performed a retrospective, observational cohort analysis of 80 men matched to 80 women for baseline age (± 5 years), body mass index (BMI) (± 2 kg/m²), type of bariatric procedure, presence of type 2 diabetes, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Results: Baseline mean ± standard deviation age in men versus women was 46.4±9.9 vs 46.1±10.2 years, and BMI 52.1±7.4 vs 52.3±7.5 kg/m². The BMI reduced to 33.± 6.4 vs 29.7±5.8 kg/m² at 36 months post-bariatric surgery (ns, non-significant) (Figure 1). Type 2 diabetes was present in 34 men matched to 34 women; HbA1c was 71.0±19.8 vs 61.0±19.8 mmol/mol at baseline (ns) and reduced to 35.0±6.2 vs 46.0±15.5 mmol/mol at 24 months (ns). Reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio and CPAP usage were also similar in men vs women.

Figure 1 Reduction in body mass index after bariatric surgery in men versus women. Data points ± error bars represent mean ± standard error.

Conclusions: Weight loss and metabolic outcomes after bariatric surgery are of similar magnitude in men compared to women. The uptake of bariatric surgery in eligible men should be encouraged.