Current state of the definition and terminology related to weight recurrence after metabolic surgery: review by the POWER Task Force of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Bariatric surgery continues to be the most reliable treatment for the disease of obesity. Despite excellent results, some patients experience weight recurrence with or without concomitant recurrence of co-morbidities. There is currently no standard definition for clinically significant weight recurrence after bariatric surgery so that patients and clinicians have a platform from which to plan treatment. The Post-Operative Weight Recurrence (POWER) Task Force was formed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery to address this aspect of the disease of obesity. This article reviews the literature of existing definitions for weight recurrence and their limitations. Furthermore, the term weight recurrence is introduced to replace weight regain or recidivism, and the term nonresponder is introduced to replace inadequate weight loss after surgery.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Insufficient weight loss; Weight recidivism; Weight recurrence; Weight regain.