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Changes in BMI and Psychosocial Functioning in Partners of Women Who Undergo Gastric Bypass Surgery for Obesity

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Abstract

Background

There is very little research exploring the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) on the patient’s partner. The aim of the present study was to investigate longitudinally whether male partners of female RYGB patients were affected in terms of BMI, sleep quality, body dissatisfaction, depression, and anxiety.

Methods

Thirty-seven women, with partners who were willing to participate, were recruited from RYGB waiting lists at five Swedish hospitals. Data collection took place during two home visits, 3 months before and 9 months after RYGB surgery. Anthropometrical data were documented, and both women and men completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ). The men also completed the Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale (MBDS).

Results

The men’s BMI changes between the two time points that were analysed using general estimating equation (GEE) regression. Their BMI decreased significantly (β = −0.9, p = 0.004). The change was more pronounced in the 26 men who had a baseline BMI of ≥25 (β = −1.4, p < 0.001). Fixed-effects regression showed a statistically significant association between the men’s weight loss and that of the women (β = 0.3, p = 0.004). There were no significant changes in the men’s HADS, KSQ, or MBDS scores.

Conclusions

Overweight/obese male partners of RYGB patients also lose weight during the first 9 months post-operatively. However, symptoms of body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression remain unchanged, as does self-reported sleep quality.

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Conflict of Interest

Mikaela Willmer and Finn Rasmussen report grants from Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, grants from Stockholm County Council (ALF), grants from Karolinska Institutet Diabetes Theme center, grants from National School in Caring Sciences at Karolinska Institutet (NFV), and grants from Erling-Persson Family Foundation, during the conduct of the study.

Daniel Berglind has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Anders Thorell has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Magnus Sundbom has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Joanna Uddén reports grants from Infucare, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, and board membership in Novo Nordisk.

Mustafa Raoof has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Jakob Hedberg has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Per Tynelius has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Ata Ghaderi has no potential conflict of interest to declare.

Erik Näslund reports grants from NovoNordisk fund, grants from Stockholm county council, during the conduct of the study.

Funding

This study was funded by a grant to Finn Rasmussen from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (grant no. 2008-0654), Stockholm County Council (ALF), NovoNordisk fund, Karolinska Institutet Diabetes Theme center, the National School in Caring Sciences at Karolinska Institutet (NFV), and through the Erling-Persson Family Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mikaela Willmer, Daniel Berglind, Per Tynelius & Finn Rasmussen

  2. Department of Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anders Thorell

  3. Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Magnus Sundbom & Jakob Hedberg

  4. Department of Medicine, Obesity Unit Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Joanna Uddén

  5. Department of Upper Gastrosurgical Research, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden

    Mustafa Raoof

  6. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ata Ghaderi

  7. Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Erik Näslund

  8. Child and Adolescent Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Widerströmska huset, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Finn Rasmussen

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  1. Mikaela Willmer
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  2. Daniel Berglind
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  3. Anders Thorell
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  4. Magnus Sundbom
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  11. Finn Rasmussen
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Correspondence to Finn Rasmussen.

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Willmer, M., Berglind, D., Thorell, A. et al. Changes in BMI and Psychosocial Functioning in Partners of Women Who Undergo Gastric Bypass Surgery for Obesity. OBES SURG 25, 319–324 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1398-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1398-4

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