['Obesity is associated with abnormalities of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis. The role of serum IGF-1 measurement for recognition of hypothalamic-pituitary diseases in obesity is still a matter of debate.', 'This study evaluated the serum levels of IGF-1 in a population of severely obese women before and after long-term weight loss obtained by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Eighty obese women with body mass index (BMI) of more than 34\xa0kg/m(2) and 80 unrelated age-matched lean controls were enrolled. IGF-1 serum levels were measured together with BMI, liver volume, and intra-abdominal fat thickness assessed by ultrasound. Evaluation was repeated 2\xa0years after LAGB.', 'Our results showed that mean IGF-1 levels in obese subjects before LAGB were significantly lower (p\u2009<\u20090.001) than that observed in age-matched controls. Age and BMI were independent predictors of serum IGF-1 values, overall accounting for 39\xa0% of IGF-1 variability. The mean IGF-1 concentration significantly increased 2\xa0years after LAGB. BMI reduction was independently associated with IGF-1 increase (r\u2009=\u2009-0.29, p\u2009<\u20090.001). For each point of BMI reduction, the mean increase of serum IGF-1 was 4.39\xa0ng/mL.'] Are serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations reduced in severely obese women and raise after weight loss induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding?