Patient Motivation for Bariatric Surgery: Characteristics and Impact on Outcomes

Background: Motivation for seeking obesity surgery has not been studied. The authors explored the patient's motivation for selecting surgery and examined for a relationship between primary motivating factors and weight outcomes. Methods: 208 (177F: 31M) unselected participants followed at least 1 year after Lap-Band? placement completed a short questionnaire. 6 statements were scored 1-6 from the most important through to the least important. Statements included appearance, embarrassment, medical conditions, health concerns, physical fitness and physical limitation. Any additional factors were also sought. Results: Mean age, weight and BMI before surgery were 41±10 years, 129±16 kg and 46±8 kg/m² respectively. Responses to appearance and embarrassment correlated strongly and were grouped together. Medical conditions and health concerns account for 52%, appearance and embarrassment for 32%, and poor physical fitness and physical limitation for 16% of first choices. Those who scored 1 for appearance or embarrassment (n=67) had a lower presenting BMI (44 kg/m², P=0.03) and all but 1 were female (P<0.001). This group reported more depressive symptoms, poorer mental quality of life and poorer body image preoperatively. Men were more likely than women to be motivated by medical problems (P=0.007). Subjects motivated by a medical condition were more likely to have hypertension or diabetes and less likely to smoke. This group tended to be older. Weight history did not influence motivation. The first choice of motivating factor was not associated with weight outcomes at 1-3 years following surgery. Conclusion: Health issues dominate the motivation for seeking surgery. Weight outcomes do not appear to be affected by the patient's primary motivating factor.