PFAS Exposure and Postoperative Weight Regain in Adolescents After Bariatric Surgery: Findings From the Teen‐LABS Study
Authors' conclusion
PFAS exposure was associated with weight regain after bariatric surgery in adolescents, potentially undermining long-term metabolic benefits.
Study context
- Population
- Adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery 2007–2012 in the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort; mean age 17.1 years, 76.3% female, 72.0% White
- Participants
- 186 adolescents
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower presurgical plasma PFAS concentrations
- Outcome
- Changes in BMI, percent weight loss and waist circumference
- Follow-up
- 1 to 5 years post surgery
Methodological detailsTeen-LABS cohort, linear mixed-effects models, quantile g-computation
- Teen-LABS cohort
- Linear mixed-effects models
- Quantile g-computation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BMI regain, percent weight loss and waist circumference by PFAS concentration
- Annual BMI regain at PFOS 1.45 to 2.94 log2 ng/mL increased from 1.34 to 1.84 kg/m²
- p = 0.0497
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
PFAS mixture analyses
- Cumulative PFAS effects confirmed; sulfonic acids showed the strongest associations
Original publication
PFAS Exposure and Postoperative Weight Regain in Adolescents After Bariatric Surgery: Findings From the Teen‐LABS Study. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 14 August 2025. doi:10.
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