BACKGROUND: Human adipose tissue expresses and releases proinflammatory cytokines and these measures of chronic inflammation have recently been associated with obesity. HYPOTHESIS: To test whether the proinflammatory state is reversible in subjects undergoing weight loss by surgical measures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty morbidly obese women participated in this prospective study. Subjects were examined for fat mass, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) before and 1 y after Swedish adjustable gastric banding. RESULTS: Anthropometric measures displayed a significant reduction of the body mass index (BMI) from 41.6 AE 5.4 to 30.8 AE 6.1 kg=m 2 and the fat mass from 53.9 AE 10.3 to 29.8 AE 12.1 kg (mean AE s.d.). Hs-CRP levels decreased significantly from 1.33 AE 1.21 mg=dl in pre-gastric banding subjects to 0.40 AE 0.61 mg=dl in post-gastric banding subjects, respectively. IL-6 and TNF-a levels did not differ significantly between pre-and post-gastric banding subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that in these patients the marked reduction in C-reactive protein might be beneficial in reducing their cardiovascular risk and is not solely mediated by IL-6 and TNF-a.

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The results indicate that many of the sexual problems in obese individuals are the result of an underlying lack of self-esteem, unsatisfactory relationships, or collective stigmatization of obese individuals. Binge eating, often found in morbidly obese patients, seems to be less the result of or compensation for sexual problems but is more likely to stem from other psychosocial or psychological problems.

Preexisting gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal motility disorders may affect the outcome of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (AGB).

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