Abstract
Background
Unrealistic expectations of weight loss are prevalent in obese patients and can negatively
affect their adherence to dietary and health goals. We sought to examine the expectations
and perceived notions about weight loss in candidates for bariatric surgery.
Methods
A total of 284 consecutive and prospective bariatric patients were surveyed using
a validated Goals and Relative Weights questionnaire before an educational seminar.
The participants categorized their weight loss expectations as “dream,” “happy,” “acceptable,”
and “disappointed” and rated the effect of surgically-induced weight loss on 21 indicators
of health, quality of life, social functioning, and self-image on a 1–10 scale. The
data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation.
Results
Of the 284 patients, 230 were women and 54 were men (age 45 ± 10 years; body mass
index 50 ± 8 kg/m2). These patients stated that their “dream” weight would be 89% ± 8% excess body weight
loss and that 77% ± 9%, 67% ± 10%, 49% ± 14% excess body weight loss would be their
“happy,” “acceptable,” and “disappointed” weight, respectively. Participants ranked
health, fitness, body image, work performance, and self-confidence as the most important
benefits of bariatric surgery. Women had greater “happy” and “acceptable” weight loss
expectations and put more emphasis on physical presence (r = .17–.33, P <.01). Younger patients put more emphasis on attractiveness and improvements in social
and sex life after bariatric surgery (r = .15–.19, P <.01).
Conclusion
The results of our study have shown that although the candidates for bariatric surgery
understand its benefits, they have unrealistic expectations of weight loss. In our
study, the patients’ most modest weight loss expectation, the “disappointed” weight,
was equivalent to what providers would consider a successful weight loss outcome after
bariatric surgery. Setting realistic expectations is an important aspect of the preoperative
evaluation and education, especially for younger women.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 19,
2007
Received in revised form:
September 7,
2007
Received:
April 26,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
