Abstract
Background
A substantial minority of bariatric surgery patients display clinically significant weight regain and recurrence of obesity-related comorbidities. Although postoperative follow-up and behavioral interventions are associated with better weight loss outcomes, many patients fail to attend or receive these services. More information is needed to better target and increase the probability of sustained treatment in those patients experiencing postoperative weight regain. The purpose of this study was to understand the challenges that patients perceive themselves to be facing and assess their receptivity and preferences for postoperative interventions.
Methods
A survey developed by the authors was sent to patients who received bariatric surgery from a program based in an academic medical center between September 2008 and December 2010 (n = 751).
Results
Data from 154 responders indicate that the vast majority of individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery are satisfied with surgery and their weight losses; however, most reported being on a trajectory of weight regain. Patients endorsed concerns about both current eating behavior and, additional, future weight regain. In addition, these patients expressed strong interest in participating in postoperative programs aimed at stopping and reversing regain.
Conclusions
The results provide novel information about bariatric surgery patients’ receptivity to and preferences for interventions after bariatric surgery.
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Conflict of Interest
D. B. Sarwer is a consultant for BAROnova, EnteroMedics, and Kythera and has received consulting fees from these organizations. The remaining authors have no commercial associations that might be a conflict of interest in relation to this article.
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. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Pennsylvania.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Bradley, L.E., Sarwer, D.B., Forman, E.M. et al. A Survey of Bariatric Surgery Patients’ Interest in Postoperative Interventions. OBES SURG 26, 332–338 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1765-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1765-9