Food and Relationships after Bariatric Surgery (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study into the roles of food within relationships after bariatric surgery.
IRAS ID
127146
Contact name
Stephen Hoole
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Research summary
Bariatric surgery is a recommended form of treatment for obesity, i.e. BMI of 40+ or 35-40 with associated health problems (NICE, 2006). It is considered effective in reducing overall body mass and improving associated physical health problems (Colquitt, Picot, Loveman & Clegg 2009). There is a growing research base investigating the safety and effectiveness of different types of surgery, which has resulted in the development of safer, less invasive, laparoscopic surgery methods (Brethauer, Chand & Schauer, 2006) with faster recovery times (Pories, 2008). Research on the positive medical and physical outcomes for the majority of patients is therefore reasonably robust; however, less literature is available on the longer term psycho-social outcomes. What there is, indicates some unequivocally positive psychosocial outcomes, such as increases in self esteem and employment opportunities (Bocchieri, Meana & Fisher, 2002a; 2002b). However, there are also changes which are more challenging and create ‘tension’. Two particular areas which appear to create tension are changes to ‘food’ and ‘relationships’. Food and eating have been shown to play a significant role within interpersonal relationships; however, an area which doesn’t appear to be represented in the bariatric surgery literature is how the role of food within interpersonal relationships is experienced after surgery and how people perceive and manage such experiences. This study will employ semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore the experiences of people who have undergone bariatric surgery, in order to gain a rich understanding of how changes to food and eating may influence interpersonal relationships post surgery. This may be helpful in designing materials that help people prepare for the necessary longer term psychosocial adjustments, prior to them having surgery. It might also give professionals who work long term with this group, a better understanding of the adjustments patients have to make and how to help them with these.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1242
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion