Psychological factors influencing weight regain after bariatric surgery

Abstract

Background: Approximately 15 to 40% of bariatric patients regain a significant percentage of their weight lost after surgery. Among psychological variables, control and self-efficacy loci are associated with behaviors related to weight loss. Also, family support can be a risk or protection factor for the maintenance of weight loss. Aim: To evaluate the association between psychological variables with weight maintenance or regain after bariatric surgery. Material and Methods: We evaluated 97 patients at 4.1 ± 3.4 years after their bariatric surgery. They answered questionnaires about self-efficacy to lose weight, locus of weight control and family functioning style. Regain after surgery was also calculated, through self-report. Results: Seventeen percent of patients gained weight. Locus of control (Z = -3.09, p < 0.01), family identity (Z = -3.71, p < 0.01) and self-efficacy (Z = -2.44, p = 0.01), differentiated patients who maintained weight loss from those who re-gained at least 15% of their lost weight. An inverse and significant relationship was observed between the percentage of weight regain and locus of control (r = -0.42, p < 0.01), family identity (r = -0.36, p < 0.01) and self-efficacy (r = -0.34, p <0.01). Conclusions: The psychological variables "locus of weight control" and "family identity" are inversely and moderately associated with weight regain in patients subjected to bariatric surgery.