Adherence to a regimen that includes follow-up appointments, diet, and physical activity after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, (LAGB) was recognized as a contributor to weight loss. Research suggested a positive association between adherence to this regimen and weight loss after LAGB. Research also suggested an inverse association between depression and adherence. It was hypothesized that subjects with depression would be less adherent to the post-operative regimen and would lose less weight after LAGB when compared with those without depression.

This study was a retrospective review of 246 LAGB subjects from a bariatric surgery practice in the Midwest who met the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria for bariatric surgery. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between depression and adherence to the post-operative regimen, and subsequent weight loss after LAGB. The independent variables were depression and adherence to the post-operative regimen. The dependent variables were adherence to the post-operative regimen and weight loss after LAGB. Subjects were categorized as depressed or non-depressed and adherent or non-adherent to the post-operative regimen.

The results did not support the hypotheses. Confounding factors (e.g., the effect of depression on self-reporting of adherence and changes in the state of depression) may have influenced the results. In addition, study limitations, such as self-reporting of depression and adherence to the post-operative regimen may have impacted the findings. The study’s findings raise questions about current protocols that delay or deny LAGB due to depression. Well designed studies on the association between depression and adherence to the post-operative regimen, and subsequent weight loss after LAGB are lacking. Evidence is insufficient to support the use of the pre-operative mental health evaluation to determine LAGB candidacy. Future investigations of factors that may affect adherence to the post-operative regimen and subsequent weight loss after LAGB are warranted.