title: Living with a Gastric Band: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Gastric banding is an established and effective form of weightloss surgery. Semi-structured interviews explored the experiences of gastric banding of twenty purposively recruited patients one year after surgery. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes emerged. They included 'Exercising choice' (restriction by the band was counterbalanced by new food-related choices.); 'Rediscovering life' (improved health, physical ability and energy enabled the patients to re-discover life.) and 'Goals achieved with no regrets' (patients had nearly achieved their self-set goals.)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beyond achieving weight loss and improved health, the participants had improved quality of life as defined by patients. Knowledge about this active process informs the care of these patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. m.pfeil@uea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeil
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. k.crozier@uea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kenda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crozier
authors.affiliation: Spire Norwich Hospital, Old Watton Rd, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TD, UK. amanda@pulford.fsnet.co.uk.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pulford
authors.affiliation: Department of Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, TA1 5DA, UK. y.ferguson@tst.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, TA1 5DA, UK. d.mahon@tst.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UY, UK. michael.lewis@nnuh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
keywords: gastric banding; patient experience; weightloss surgery