What is the Lived Experience of Patients who Demonstrate Weight Regain after Bariatric Surgery?

Abstract

The common health trend seen in Michigan as well as in the United States is the rapid increase and prevalence of obesity across the entire population. According to the report, Healthy Michigan 2010, adult obesity has reached epidemic proportions with approximately 62% of adults either overweight or obese. On average, higher body weights are associated with higher death rates (Healthy People 2010). Individuals who are in a morbidly obese state have only limited options available for successful weight loss. Among these options, medical weight loss programs, pharmacological treatments, and exercise therapies have been unsuccessful in the treatment of these medically complex patients. Bariatric surgery has been recognized as the most successful way to sustain weight loss. Over the next several years the number of patients who will have had bariatric surgery for morbid obesity will reach one million. Very little qualitative research has been conducted with postoperative bariatric patients who have demonstrated weight regain after bariatric surgery. The phenomenological approach was used in this research study to discover the meaning of the human experience of patients who loast and then regained weight after bariatric surgery. Face-to-face participant interviews were completed using open-ended interview questions. Several common themes were discovered from the analysis of data: Family and friends' opinions had significant impact on the participants' weight regain; Self-care strategies were effective for weight loss success; Life stressors were determined to have influence on weight regain; Changes in self-esteem and self-image were evident during the initial weight loss and subsequent weight regain; Changes in food preferences were evident after surgical procedure.