A recent study has shown that two obesity-related genetic variations have been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) among those that suffer from morbid obesity (BMI of 40 or higher) that undergo bariatric weigh-loss procedures to help lose weight. However, a consistent variable that determines the success of these surgeries in keeping off the weight in the long term hasn’t been identified until now.

 Seven hundred and seven severely obese patients (BMI of 51.2 or higher) patients who had gastric bypass surgery. Blood samples from the patients were analyzed for two common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously found to be associated with obesity. SNPs are variations caused by alteration of single building block of DNA. The researchers found that about 21 percent of the patients had two copies of one obesity-related SNP, 13 percent had two copies of the other SNP, and 3.4 percent had two copies of both SNPs. The study may prove important in predicting the success of bariatric procedures since “learning more about obesity-related genetic factors that may negate the effects of bariatric surgery may prove important in identifying patients at high risk for postoperative weight gain,” the study authors concluded.