Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, where obesity rates are among the highest globally. However, despite being effective for initial weight loss, a significant proportion of patients experiences weight regain after some time. We analyzed the prevalence of weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy in the Middle East and its association with patients' demographic characteristics, preoperative body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted between 2023 and 2024 using an online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms, and through personal networks, targeted adults from Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern countries who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy 12+ months ago. Data collected included sociodemographics, medical conditions, country of residency, highest and lowest weight before and after surgery, current weight, and time required to reach lowest weight after surgery. RESULT: Among 225 participants, mean BMI dropped in 1 year from 43.8 to 28.7. Younger patients achieved higher excess weight loss compared to those >45 years old (74.1% vs 61.2 %). the average was 72.9 % at 12 months after the surgery, but declined to 66.6 % as time progressed. While 22.7 % were still losing weight and 31.8 % maintained their weight 12 months postoperatively, weight regain was observed in 45.5 % and was higher in those >45 years old. CONCLUSION: Despite favorable short-term outcomes, around half of the patients experienced weight regain within the first year, which was shown to be correlated with older age group, while preoperative BMI and gender showed no significant impact. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of weight regain and emphasize the need for long-term follow-up. Conducting future studies with a larger population and longer follow up periods is expected to gain more accurate results.