WeightControl.com Interview with:
Dr Ana Carreira and Dr Bárbara Araújo
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
Coimbra, Portuga
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Bariatric surgery is increasingly common in women of reproductive age and reduces the risk of obesity-related comorbidities in pregnancy. However, women after bariatric surgery have an increased risk of having a baby who is underweight (small for gestational age, SGA). A shorter bariatric surgery-to-conception interval (BSCI) has been one of the factors associated with a higher risk of SGA neonates, and, as a result, women are generally advised to wait at least 12 months after bariatric surgery before trying to conceive. However, the optimal bariatric surgery-to-conception interval is yet to be determined, and current recommendation differ among scientific societies, with some advocating a minimum of 12months and others 18 or 24 months.