title: Obesity and treatment meanings in bariatric surgery candidates: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study used a qualitative approach to comprehend how the morbid obese conceptualize and deal with obesity and obesity treatment, with the particular aim of exploring the expectations and beliefs about the exigencies and the impact of bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 30 morbid obese patients (20 women and 10 men) with a mean age of 39.17 years (SD = 8.81) and a mean body mass index of 47.5 (SD = 8.2) (reviewer #2, comment #9) interviewed individually before surgery using open-ended questions. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and then coded according to grounded analysis methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main thematic areas emerged from the data: obesity, eating behavior, and treatment. Obesity is described as a stable and hereditary trait. Although participants recognize that personal eating behavior exacerbates this condition, patients see their eating behavior as difficult to change and control. Food seems to be an ever-present dimension and a coping strategy, and to follow an adequate diet plan is described as a huge sacrifice. Bariatric surgery emerges as the only treatment for obesity, and participants highlight this moment as the beginning of a new life where health professionals have the main role. Bariatric surgery candidates see their eating behavior as out of their control, and to commit to its demands is seen as a big sacrifice. For these patients, surgery is understood as a miracle moment that will change their lives without requiring an active role or their participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to these results, it is necessary to validate them with qualitative and quantitative studies (reviewer #2, comment #3); it is necessary to promote a new awareness of the weight loss process and to empower patients before and after bariatric surgery.
authors: Granted by Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/37069/2007), Center for Research in Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Susana Sofia Pereira
authors: SS
authors: da Silva
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: da Costa Maia
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss