Beliefs, Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity in Bariatric Surgery Candidates.
BACKGROUND
Bariatric surgery candidates engage in less physical activity (PA) and spend longer periods in sedentary behaviour (SB) when compared to the general adult population. The aim of this study was to explore the beliefs about PA and perceived barriers and facilitators to PA in obese adults scheduled for bariatric surgery.


METHODS
Nineteen obese adults (15 females), with a mean (SD) age of 41.6 (12.1) years, weight of 119.2 (20.5) kg and body mass index of 41.6 (6.7) kg/m(2) participated in a one-on-one in-depth qualitative interview before undergoing bariatric surgery. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.


RESULTS
Most participants believed that engaging in regular PA confers important health benefits, however reported insufficient PA levels to obtain those benefits. The perceived barriers to PA reported by participants were both obesity related (e.g. bodily pain, physical limitation and self-presentational concerns) and non-obesity related (e.g. lack of motivation, environment and restricted resources). All participants stated weight loss to be the main perceived facilitator to PA, together with social factors, better time management and access to financial resources.


CONCLUSIONS
In bariatric surgery candidates, many of the perceived barriers and facilitators to PA are not obesity related and are therefore unlikely to change as a result of bariatric surgery. This may explain why earlier research shows little change in PA or SB following surgery. It is likely that an approach that aims to address the barriers and facilitators identified in this study is needed to change the inactive lifestyle adopted in this population.
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia.
Juliana
J
Zabatiero
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia.|Lung Institute of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Kylie
K
Hill
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia.
Daniel F
DF
Gucciardi
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Surgical Health, Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Jeffrey M
JM
Hamdorf
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Surgical Health, Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Susan F
SF
Taylor
School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Martin S
MS
Hagger
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Western Australia, Australia. Anne.Smith@curtin.edu.au.
Anne
A
Smith
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
Bariatric surgery; Barriers; Facilitators; Interviews; Physical activity; Thematic analysis