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. 2019 Apr;15(4):636-642.
doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.01.015. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Health and appearance: Factors motivating the decision to seek bariatric surgery

Rebecca L Pearl  1 , Thomas A Wadden  2 , Kaylah Walton  2 , Kelly C Allison  2 , Jena Shaw Tronieri  2 , Noel N Williams  3
Affiliations

Health and appearance: Factors motivating the decision to seek bariatric surgery

Rebecca L Pearl et al. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined the motivating factors and people that lead patients to seek bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery helps to improve body image, but little is known about patients' desired changes in the appearance of specific body parts.

Objectives: To identify key factors and people motivating patients' decision to seek bariatric surgery, and to assess body dissatisfaction and desire for surgery to change the appearance of specific body parts.

Setting: U.S. university-based hospital clinic.

Methods: Patients seeking bariatric surgery (N = 208, 78.4% women, 52.4% black, mean age = 42.0 ± 12.3 yr, mean body mass index = 46.7 ± 8.5 kg/m2) completed the Reasons for Bariatric Surgery questionnaire before their preoperative Psychosocial-behavioral evaluation. Participants rated (1-10) the importance of 15 potential reasons and 7 potential people motivating their decision to seek bariatric surgery. Participants also rated their dissatisfaction and desire for surgery to change the appearance of 11 body parts.

Results: Mean scores of motivating factors were highest for Physical Health (9.9 ± .4), followed by Longevity (9.7 ± .9). Patients reported high body dissatisfaction and desire for surgery to change the appearance of several body parts, including stomach and thighs. "Myself" was the highest-rated motivating person, followed by healthcare providers, family, and someone who had undergone bariatric surgery.

Conclusions: Health is the primary reason reported by patients for seeking bariatric surgery. Patients also report a strong desire for surgery to change the appearance of their body. Patients are self-driven to pursue surgery but are also influenced by healthcare providers, family, and people who have undergone surgery. (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2019;X:XXX-XXX.) © 2019 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Appearance; Body image; Motivation; Obesity; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statement

Author 1 discloses serving as a consultant for Novo Nordisk and receiving grant support, on behalf of the [University of Pennsylvania], from WW, Int. Author 2 discloses serving on advisory boards for Novo Nordisk and WW, Int., as well as receiving grant support, on behalf of the [University of Pennsylvania], from Novo Nordisk. Author 4 discloses serving as a consultant for WW, Int. and Novo Nordisk and receiving grant support from Novo Nordisk. Author 5 discloses serving as a consultant for Novo Nordisk. Author 3 and Author 6 have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1a.
Figure 1a.
Mean ratings and standard deviations for importance of reasons motivating participants’ decision to seek bariatric surgery Note. NS=Not significant at p≤0.001. With the exception of Psychosocial and Quality of Life factors, all factors differed significantly from one another. Due to missing items, ns ranged from 203-208 for each factor.
Figure 1b.
Figure 1b.
Mean ratings and standard deviations for importance of people motivating participants’ decision to seek bariatric surgery Note. NS = Not significant at p≤0.001. Healthcare, family, and someone who had surgery did not significantly differ from one another, and someone who had surgery did not significantly differ from partner/spouse. All other people differed significantly. Due to missing items, ns ranged from 189-205 for each person.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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