Role of Ethnicity on Weight Loss and Attrition After Bariatric Surgery

Ethnicity has been shown to affect weight loss outcome and attrition after bariatric surgery. We analyze data from a multiethnic urban cohort of patients (n = 570) followed up to 12 months after either gastric bypass (RYGB) or gastric banding (AGB) surgery. Percent total weight loss was greater at 1 year after RYGB (35%) compared with that of AGB (13%), regardless of ethnicity. Hispanics were more likely to undergo RYGB (77.3% vs. 61.2% of African-Americans and 50.4% of Caucasians). Ethnicity had no effect on attrition after RYGB, but Hispanics had better follow-up rate after AGB. Our data do not support an effect of ethnicity on surgical weight loss at 1 year.