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. 2017 Aug;27(8):2073-2078.
doi: 10.1007/s11695-017-2603-z.

Self-Reported Hedonism Predicts 12-Month Weight Loss After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Sven Alfonsson  1   2 , Sandra Weineland-Strandskov  3 , Magnus Sundbom  4
Affiliations

Self-Reported Hedonism Predicts 12-Month Weight Loss After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Sven Alfonsson et al. Obes Surg. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Research regarding psychological risk factors for reduced weight loss after bariatric surgery has yielded mixed results, especially for variables measured prior to surgery. More profound personality factors have shown better promise and one such factor that may be relevant in this context is time perspective, i.e., the tendency to focus on present or future consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of time perspective for 12-month weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Methods: A total of 158 patients were included and completed self-report instruments prior to surgery. Weight loss was measured after 12 months by medical staff. Background variables as well as self-reported disordered eating, psychological distress, and time perspective were analyzed with regression analysis to identify significant predictors for 12-month weight loss.

Results: The mean BMI loss at 12 months was 14 units, from 45 to 30 kg/m2. Age, sex, and time perspective could significantly predict weight loss but only male sex and self-reported hedonism were independent risk factors for reduced weight loss in the final regression model.

Conclusion: In this study, self-reported hedonistic time perspective proved to be a better predictor for 12-month weight loss than symptoms of disordered eating and psychological distress. It is possible that a hedonistic tendency of focusing on immediate consequences and rewards is analogous to the impaired delay discounting seen in previous studies of bariatric surgery candidates. Further studies are needed to identify whether these patients may benefit from extended care and support after surgery.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Hedonism; Personality; Risk factors; Time perspective; Weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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