Does Ethnicity Influence the Long-Term Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy? Results from a Prospectively Maintained Israeli Database
In brief
Sleeve gastrectomy showed comparable long-term weight loss in 892 Arab and Jewish patients
In a single-center analysis, Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish patients had broadly similar weight loss at 1 and 5 years after sleeve gastrectomy, with similarly high remission of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Arab patients were younger and had higher starting body mass index, while Jewish patients had more follow-up visits; the observational findings do not establish that outcomes are equivalent in other settings.
- Journal
- Obesity surgery (Q1)
- Published
- 21 October 2026
- Study design
- Prospective / inception cohort
- Evidence level
- Level 2, Moderate (CEBM 2b)
- Authors
- Nayyera Tibi, Boris Kirshtein, Noam Peleg, Hila Shmilovich, Alex Tatarov, Nidal Issa, et al.
- PMID
- 42905359
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11695-026-08904-x
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (paper of the day, 24 October 2026): Long-term sleeve gastrectomy weight loss and metabolic remission outcomes
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ethnic disparities often influence patient's outcomes. This study aimed to compare the weight loss and metabolic outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish patients. METHODS: A prospectively maintained cohort of 892 patients (262 Arabs and 630 Jews) who underwent LSG between 2009 and 2022 at a single tertiary academic center was retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, peri-operative, and long-term outcome data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Arabs were younger (35 vs. 44 years) and had a higher baseline BMI (45.1 vs. 42.9). Jews had more postoperative follow-ups (6.8 vs. 6.0). Despite these differences, long-term weight loss outcomes were broadly comparable between groups. %EWL outcomes did not differ significantly at 1- and 5-year follow-up. Although Arab patients demonstrated numerically higher %TWL at 1 year, this difference did not reach statistical significance and was not sustained at longer-term follow-up. Rates of comorbidity remission, including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, were similarly high. CONCLUSION: Despite baseline ethnic disparities, LSG was associated with comparable long-term weight loss and comorbidity resolution among Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish patients.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.