Social Aspects of Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Bariatric surgery significantly impacts the patients’ everyday life due to the changes in their physical appearance and eating habits. To date, very few studies have focused on the patients’ perspective to understand the experiences of bariatric surgery patients. This understanding underpins the provision of optimal care and support to the patients. As the evidence for the positive impact of bariatric surgery has grown, not only for weight loss but also for improvement of metabolic conditions, the number of people who undergo bariatric procedures has increased exponentially. Patients require long-term follow-up and support due to the anatomical and physiological changes caused by the surgical interventions. This is to ensure that nutritional deficiencies do not occur, to maximize the weight loss benefits, and to support the mental health and well-being of patients. This approach requires a multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach. It is important to examine the sociocultural attitudes toward overweight and obesity to understand the social aspects of bariatric surgery. The bariatric surgical journeys of many patients begin long before they undergo surgery and it is important to understand their experiences of living with the obesity. This ensures that patients are provided with personalized support and safe and optimal care both before and after the surgery. Obesity is a complex condition and often requires a multidisciplinary approach along with empathy and compassion from healthcare professionals. Many patients conceptualize that they will have two lives, one before and one after the bariatric surgery. Therefore, patients need to adjust to the physical, social, and mental challenges that happen postoperatively. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section explores the patients’ life before bariatric surgery presenting the social construction and stigma of obesity and its consequences. The second section focuses on the patients’ life after bariatric surgery, how patients adjust to the life changes, societal attitudes toward bariatric surgery, how research can provide a greater understanding of patients’ experiences, and, finally, concludes with recommendations for practice.