Investigating the impact of very low-calorie diet in patients' postbariatric surgery with weight regain: A randomized, prospective, interventional, and pilot study

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of very low-calorie diet (VLCD) on postbariatric surgery (BS) patients with weight regain (WR). Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, interventional clinical trial. The sample selection for the study was performed on the basis of prepared inclusion and exclusion criteria. Structured phone calls were made to all the subjects in which baseline information such as body weight and height were asked through which body mass index (BMI) was calculated to check the eligibility. A sample size of 40 subjects including both males and females with >10% gain of nadir weight after 2 years of BS with a current BMI of ≥30 kg/m[2] was selected. Two standardized VLCD plans for 4 weeks each were prescribed to them. A close supervision of selected subjects was done regularly through structured weekly calls, outpatient department follow-ups, and support group meets. The statistical analysis was done to find the average weight loss (WL) and change in body fat percentage over 8 weeks. Results: The mean average age of the sample was 45 ± 9.45 years among which 12 were male and 28 were female. The sample size was under the inclusion criteria with >10% WR after 2 years of BS. In this sample, the average total body WL after BS was found to be 47.3 kg. Postoperative average WR in the selected sample was 10.3%. After the follow-up period of 8 weeks of VLCD, an average WL of 3.66 kg (3.76%) along with a body fat percent loss of 2.58% was observed. It was also noted that the WL in the initial weeks was comparatively higher than that in the later weeks. An average WL in the first 4 weeks was 2.36 kg (2.42%) and average WL in the next 4 weeks was 1.32 kg (1.35%). Conclusion: VLCD is effective but long-term effects need to be seen. There have been no such Indian studies before this, and hence, more such studies need to be done.