Using obesity management medications within the first year after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy may enhance weight-loss outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of using additional obesity management medications (OMMs) within the first year after undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 246 patients who underwent primary LSG in our institution and were followed up for at least 12 months. We collected body weights preoperatively and at three, six, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, along with body composition and laboratory results preoperatively and at 12 months. Data on obesity management medications were collected. The OMM adjuvant therapy protocol has been applied at our institution since 2021. The patients were classified into two contemporary cohorts by surgery year: 2019-2020 standard care + dietitian (SCD) and 2021-2024 standard care + dietitian + OMM protocol (OPG). RESULTS: Overall, 97 patients were in SCD and 149 in OPG. Patients had similar age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio among the groups. The OPG group demonstrated significantly higher total body weight loss (TBWL) and excess body weight loss (EBWL) at three, six, and 12 months. In multivariable analyses, OPG had a trend toward higher odds of achieving TBWL ≥ 25% at 12 months (adjusted OR 2.413, 95% CI 0.939-6.204, p = 0.067) after LSG. By 24 months, between-group differences were not significant in complete-case analyses. CONCLUSION: Protocolized use of OMM within the first year after LSG may enhance weight loss outcomes and offer a trend toward optimal clinical response, highlighting its potential in metabolic-bariatric care.