Does a Higher BMI Mean More Pain After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
A 2026 study looked at whether having a higher body mass index, or BMI, changes how much pain people feel after gastric sleeve surgery. It found that people with severe obesity had a higher pain tolerance and used less pain relief medication after their operation than people with a lower level of obesity.
The Study Followed 55 Adults Who Had Keyhole Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Researchers followed 55 adults aged 18 to 65, all of whom had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which is gastric sleeve surgery performed through small keyhole incisions. Participants were divided into two groups: one with a BMI between 30 and 40, and one with a BMI of 40 or above. Pain levels, pain tolerance, medication use and recovery scores were measured before and in the days after surgery.
People with Severe Obesity Had Higher Pain Tolerance and Used Less Pain Relief Medication
People in the severe obesity group, those with a BMI of 40 or above, had a measurably higher pain tolerance than those in the lower BMI group. They also used less pain relief medication overall in the days following surgery. However, when researchers looked at a widely used pain score recorded at 24 hours after surgery, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
The Study Is Small and Was Conducted in One Country So Results May Vary
This was a relatively small study of 55 people, registered and conducted in China, so the findings may not apply equally to all populations or settings. Because participants were not randomly assigned to groups, other factors could also have influenced the results. Pain experience after surgery varies from person to person regardless of BMI.
About this research: The Association Between Body Mass Index and Acute Postoperative Pain in Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study, published in Pain and Therapy, 2026. Read the study summary
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