Abstract
Background
Bariatric surgery offers excellent weight loss results and improvement in obesity-associated comorbidities. Many patients undergoing surgery are of working age, and so an understanding of any relationship between occupational outcomes and surgery is essential. The aim of this study was to ascertain the occupational outcomes of patients undergoing bariatric surgery at a high-volume centre.
Methods
A retrospective search was performed of a prospectively maintained consecutive electronic database. We collected data on patient demographics and employment status before and after bariatric surgery. All patients with a documented employment status within 30 months of surgery were included. Patients were divided into three groups: within 6 months post-operatively, 7–18 months post-operatively, and 19–30 months post-operatively.
Results
A total of 1011 patients were included. Median age was 47 years (range 18–78). Pre-operatively, 59.5% (444/746) were employed compared to 69.9% (707/1011) post-operatively (p < 0.05). The number of unemployed fell from 36.6% (273/746) pre-operatively to 21% (212/1011) post-operatively. The improvement in employment status was seen at all durations of follow-up. For those in employment pre-operatively, approximately 90% were still in employment at each subsequent follow-up. For those patients who were unemployed pre-operatively, approximately 40% were in employment at each subsequent follow-up. A significant improvement in the percentage employed was seen in all working age groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
This is the largest study worldwide looking at employment outcomes following bariatric surgery. It demonstrates a significant increase in number of employed patients following bariatric surgery. Interestingly, it also showed that some patients employed pre-operatively become unemployed afterwards.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig1_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig2_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig3_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig4_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig5_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2963-4/MediaObjects/11695_2017_2963_Fig6_HTML.gif)
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reichert A. [Internet] Obesity, weight loss, and employment. The University of York. 2013. [cited 09 May 2017]. Available at: https://www.york.ac.uk/media/economics/documents/hedg/workingpapers/13_20.pdf
Klarenbach S, Padwal R, Chuck A, et al. Population-based analysis of obesity and workforce participation. Obesity. 2006;14(5):920–7.
Jusot F, Khlat M, Rochereau T, et al. Job loss from poor health, smoking and obesity: a national prospective survey in France. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008;62(4):332–7.
Sharples AJ, Cheruvu CVN. Systematic review and meta-analysis of occupational outcomes after bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2017;27(3):774–81.
Public Health England Obesity [Internet]. Workplaces; c2017 [cited 03 Jan 2017]. Available at https://www.noo.org.uk/LA/tackling/workplaces
Harvey SB, Glozier N, Carlton O, et al. Obesity and sickness absence: results from the CHAP study. Occup Med (Lond). 2010;60(5):362–8.
Neovius K, Johansson K, Rossner S, et al. Disability pension, employment and obesity status: a systematic review. Obes Rev. 2008;9(6):572–81.
Schmier JK, Jones ML, Halpern MT. Cost of obesity in the workplace. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006;32(1):5–11.
Public Health England Obesity [Internet]. Economics of obesity; c2017 [cited 03 Jan 2017]. Available at https://www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/economics
Major P, Matlok M, Pedziwiatr M, et al. Quality of life after bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2015;25(9):1703–10.
Arcila D, Velazquez D, Gamino R, et al. Quality of life in bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2002;12(5):661–5.
Sampalis JS, Liberman M, Auger S, et al. The impact of weight reduction surgery on health-care costs in morbidly obese patients. Obes Surg. 2004;14(7):939–47.
Gallagher SF, Banasiak M, Gonzalvo JP, et al. The impact of bariatric surgery on the veterans administration healthcare system: a cost analysis. Obes Surg. 2003;12:245–8.
Clegg A, Colquitt J, Sidhu M et al. Clinical and cost effectiveness of surgery for morbid obesity: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Int J Obes 2003; 27: 1167–7
Andersen JR, Hernaes UJ, Hufthammer KO, et al. Employment status and sick-leave following obesity surgery: a five-year prospective cohort study. PeerJ. 2015;3:e1285.
Durand-Moreau Q, Gautier A, Becouarn G, et al. Employment and professional outcomes in 803 patients undergoing bariatric surgery in a French reference center for obesity. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2015;6(2):95–103.
Hanvold SE, Loken EB, Paus SF, et al. Great health benefits but no change in employment or psychopharmaceutical drug use 2 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2015;25(9):1672–9.
Velcu LM, Adolphine R, Mourelo R, et al. Weight loss, quality of life and employment status after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 5-year analysis. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2005;1(4):413–6.
Hawkins SC, Osborne A, Finlay IG, et al. Paid work increases and state benefit claims decrease after bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2007;17(4):434–7.
Office for National Statistics [Internet]. Unemployment; c2017 [cited 09 May 2017]. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment
Sunderland City Council [Internet]. Employment data; c2017 [cited 09 May 2017]. Available at http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3322
Department for Communities and Local Government [Internet]. The English indices of deprivation 2015 statistical release; c2017 [cited 09 May 2017]. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465791/English_Indices_of_Deprivation_2015_-_Statistical_Release.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
Not required.
Informed Consent
For this type of study, formal consent is not required.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Courtney, M.J., Mahawar, K., Burnell, P. et al. Occupational Outcomes of Obesity Surgery—Do the Employed Return to Work, and Do the Unemployed Find Work?. OBES SURG 28, 963–969 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2963-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2963-4