title: Contextual care of the patient following weight-loss surgery: Relational views and maintenance activities of couples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weight-loss surgery (WLS) is a popular means toward achieving weight loss. Numerous studies report on the psychological and physical benefits of the procedure. Patients who have supportive others often demonstrate improved outcomes as compared to those who may not have support. The present study examines relationship maintenance activities that may contribute to a couple's positive adjustment following WLS, along with relational views that may modify and evolve as patients continue to lose weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven heterosexual couples in which the female had WLS participated in in-depth, semistructured interviews. A deductive method of analysis was used to categorize relationship maintenance activities; an inductive method was used to examine relational views.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six types of relationship maintenance activities proved beneficial following WLS: (1) openness, (2) assurances, (3) food/meals as shared tasks, (4) joint activities, (5) antisocial, and (6) affection. In describing their relational views, participants spoke to the increasing independence, confidence, and self-focus of those who had had WLS. A persistent fat identity was also reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings can provide advanced practice nurses and other clinicians additional insight into, and strategies to assist, couples who have experienced, or will experience, WLS within their relationship.
authors.affiliation: Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aramburu Alegría
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Program, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Family practice; obesity; qualitative analysis; social relationships; stress and coping; weight management; women's health