# Impact of Bariatric Surgery on metabolic health in a Uruguayan cohort and the emerging predictive role of FSTL1

## TL;DR

This study examines how bariatric surgery affects metabolic health in Uruguay and finds that higher FSTL1 levels before surgery may predict better weight loss outcomes.

## Contribution

The study identifies FSTL1 as a potential biomarker for predicting bariatric surgery success in an Uruguayan cohort.

## Key findings

- Bariatric surgery improved metabolic and clinical parameters in the cohort.
- Higher pre-surgical FSTL1 levels correlated with greater BMI reduction after surgery.

## Abstract

Obesity poses significant challenges, necessitating comprehensive strategies for effective intervention. Bariatric Surgery (BS) has emerged as a crucial therapeutic approach, demonstrating success in weight loss and comorbidity improvement. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of BS in a cohort of 48 Uruguayan patients and investigate the interplay between BS and clinical and metabolic features, with a specific focus on FSTL1, an emerging biomarker associated with obesity and inflammation. We quantitatively analyzed BS outcomes and constructed linear models to identify variables impacting BS success. The study revealed the effectiveness of BS in improving metabolic and clinical parameters. Importantly, variables correlating with BS success were identified, with higher pre-surgical FSTL1 levels associated with an increased effect of BS on BMI reduction. FSTL1 levels were measured from patient plasma using an ELISA kit pre-surgery and six months after. This research, despite limitations of a small sample size and limited follow-up time, contributes valuable insights into understanding and predicting the success of BS, highlighting the potential role of FSTL1 as a useful biomarker in obesity.