A qualitative exploration into the psychological support following weight loss surgery

Harrison, Wendy (2013) A qualitative exploration into the psychological support following weight loss surgery. Liverpool Hope University.

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Abstract

According to the World Health Organisation, more than one in ten adults worldwide are obese (WHO, 2012), increasing the risk of comorbidities, resulting in public health concern worldwide. Unless medical intervention is offered preventing obesity, it is likely that it will cost the National Health Service (NHS) around £50 billion pounds by 2050. The increasing costs to the NHS more contemporarily include the cost and need for bariatric surgery. Therefore, the aim of this research is to ascertain whether people who have weight loss surgery, specifically, a gastric bypass, are offered enough psychological support post-operative. Such support has been proven essential, as losing the amount of weight with such procedure results in life changing physical and psychological experiences, therefore, support dealing with such changes is essential. A qualitative methodological approach was used with the expectation of receiving rich and meaningful data representing both participants’ worldviews. Semi-structured interviews incorporating two female participants both over eighteen years were conducted allowing the incorporation of questions about the participant’s beliefs and attitudes. An interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) was used offering the researcher an understanding of the amount of psychological support received post-operatively, aiding them in accomplishing their weight loss goals and positive psychological well-being.