Serum β-endorphin levels in morbidly obese patients:: The effect of vertical banded gastroplasty

The associations between serum beta-endorphin levels and clinical and metabolic variables as well as beta-endorphin changes after surgically induced weight loss were investigated in 13 morbidly obese patients. A significant positive correlation between beta-endorphin and body weight, degree of body weight increase and ACTH was found preoperatively. Only body weight was independently associated with beta-endorphin levels, Twelve months following vertical banded gastroplasty, there was an extensive weight loss in all patients and improvement in their metabolic profile. A significant reduction in P-endorphin levels which was proportional to the extent of weight loss was also observed.