Impact of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Subjective Hunger and Appetite Ratings and Endocrine Hormones

Background: The effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) surgery on the levels of patients’ hunger and appetite across the day and relation to weight loss achieved were examined. Methods: Visual analog scale (VAS) hunger and appetite ratings were digitally collected from 10 female participants across a day during in-lab sessions 1-2 weeks before and 12 weeks after surgery. Fasting hormone levels were also assessed in 8 participants. Results: Post-surgery ratings were reduced overall despite fasting levels of leptin and ghrelin changing in favor of increased food intake. Notably, the majority of ratings from before breakfast were not different from ratings after dinner, suggesting that VSG induces changes that overcome the homeostatic drive to oppose a hypocaloric diet. Conclusions: These findings highlight the effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy surgery in curbing food-seeking behavior despite a negative calorie balance.