Why patients seek bariatric surgery: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of patient motivation.
BACKGROUND
Bariatric surgery is becoming a common procedure to control the obesity problem in the United States. However, despite the prevalence of the surgery, little is known regarding the motivation of patients who seek out these procedures. This present study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively examine in a moderate-sized sample of bariatric seeking patients their reported reasons for wanting surgery.


METHODS
109 severely obese patients (mean BMI 49.9) seeking either the duodenal switch or gastric bypass surgery between 1999 and 2002 were surveyed as to their motivations for seeking weight loss surgery. Their responses were coded into psychological, medical and quality of life categories for analysis. Depression and Quality of Life data was also obtained.


RESULTS
Descriptive analysis of the data indicated the vast majority (73.4%) of respondents endorsed current medical ailments as their primary reason for seeking weight loss surgery. Patients who responded with a secondary reason for desiring surgery reported primarily psychological and quality of life reasons. Scores on depression and quality of life measures did not impact their endorsed reasons for seeking surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients in the present sample appear motivated for surgery primarily to control current medical problems. However, a significant portion of patients do endorse psychological and quality of life factors as important in their decision to seek weight loss surgery.
Munoz
Daniel J
DJ
University of Indianapolis, IN, USA. munozd@uindy.edu
Lal
Mona
M
Chen
Eunice Y
EY
Mansour
Mayce
M
Fischer
Sarah
S
Roehrig
Megan
M
Sanchez-Johnsen
Lisa
L
Dymek-Valenitine
Maureen
M
Alverdy
John
J
le Grange
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept