Objective: This study investigated associations between patients' experiences with anti-obesity medications and weight loss expectations prior to bariatric surgery. Methods: Patients were electronically surveyed with a 31-item questionnaire via email or the patient portal with a primary predictor variable of AOMs pre-surgery. Outcomes included degree of weight loss and weight regain and motivation for seeking surgery. Results: 346 persons were invited to complete the survey. 112 (32.4%) were completed, with 7 excluded due to not answering the AOM question. 73% reported AOM use. Among those who took AOMs prior to seeking bariatric surgery, average weight loss was 13 kg (SD +/-10 kg) corresponding to a 4.4 kg/m2 decrease in BMI. Of past AOMs recipients, 87% reported weight regain upon stopping AOMs. Average weight regain was 18 kg (SD 13kg, 126% increase). Patients reported improved longevity and quality of life as motivation for seeking surgery with AOM use history having no effect. Subjects reported an average weight loss goal of 65.8 kg (39% of baseline weight) from bariatric surgery. Conclusion: AOMs were commonly used in those seeking bariatric surgery but motivation for surgery did not differ by AOMs use history. Motivations were most often related to goals for better overall health.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Institutional Review Board deemed this study minimal risk and thus exempt from institutional review (IRB# 232013)

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All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors