title: Associations between relationship stability, relationship quality, and weight loss outcomes among bariatric surgery patients.
abstract: After weight loss surgery (WLS), psychosocial functioning, including the quality of social relationships, generally improves, but for a minority, relationships worsen. We examined how changes in relationship stability and quality from pre- to post-WLS relate to long-term weight loss outcomes. Postoperative patients (N=361) completed surveys which queried relationship changes and weight loss. The sample was 95.9% Caucasian, 80.1% female, averaged 7.7years post-WLS, with a mean age at surgery of 47.7years (range 21-72); 87.3% had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Four relationship status groups were created: Not in a relationship at surgery or follow-up (No-Rel, n=66; 18.2%); Post-WLS relationship only (New-Rel, n=23; 6%); Pre-WLS relationship only (Lost-Rel, n=17; 5%); and Pre-Post Relationship (Maintainer, n=255; 70.6%). Current BMI was 34.5 for No-Rel; 40.5 for New-Rel; 37.4 for Lost-Rel; 33.3 for Maintainers (p<.05 for Maintainers and No-Rel vs. New-Rel). These same group differences were significant for weight loss, which was not associated with gender, time since surgery, or age at time of surgery, but was associated with pre-WLS BMI (lower pre-WLS BMI was associated with greater %EWL). Analyses were repeated with pre-WLS BMI as a covariate; group differences remained significant [F (3, 355)=3.09, p=.03], as did pre-WLS BMI, [F (1, 355)=9.12, p=.003]. Among Maintainers, relationship quality was associated with weight loss outcomes: those with improved relationships post-WLS had significantly greater %EWL [F (2, 234)=15.82, p<0.000; p<.05 for Improved>(Stayed Same=Got Worse)]. Findings support the importance of assessing relationship stability and quality in pre-WLS candidates, as healthy and stable relationships may support improved long-term outcomes. Interventions to improve relationships pre-and post-WLS may increase both quality of life and weight loss outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United States. Electronic address: shannon.clark4@wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United States.
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Saules
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Carmel Bariatric Center of Excellence, Carmel, IN, United States.
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Carmel Bariatric Center of Excellence, Carmel, IN, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stote
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent Carmel Bariatric Center of Excellence, Carmel, IN, United States.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Creel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Relationship satisfaction; Weight loss outcomes