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Exclusion of Spouses from Weight-Loss Surgery Process May Result in Less Weight Loss

posted by Admin User at 2016-03-01 09:53:00


Marriage has some of the most positive effects on a person, both physically and psychologically. The health benefits of sharing your life with another is backed by countless data and research. 
Looking into the impact of marriage on weight loss surgery (WLS), a recent study at Ohio State University found that the support of your spouse, post-WLS, can influence long-term weight maintenance. Couples who had unsupportive spouses found it much harder than unmarried patients to shed weight after WLS.
The research based on a review of 13 studies on weight-loss surgery, published between 1990 and 2014, found that married patients lost less weight than unmarried patients. They also found evidence that “couples' relationship quality tended to decline from pre- to post-WLS, and sexual contact increased post-WLS.”
The Ohio State research team, led by graduate student in human science Megan Ferriby, published their findings in the journal Obesity Surgery. “Food is so central to family routines and celebrations and when you undergo a surgery that so vastly impacts your ability to eat as you did before, family members take notice,” Ferriby said.
Of the six studies associating marriage and weight loss after WLS, four found that married patients lost less weight than single patients. According to one study, which observed 180 gastric-bypass patients, married patients were 2.6 times less likely to achieve their goal weight one year after the surgery. In another study, single patients were found to be 2.7 times more likely to stick with their diet and exercise goals post-WLS.
There has been very little research of this kind to draw definite conclusions without further investigation, yet this study highlights how important it is for spouses to be supportive. They should be made a part of the WLS process and be able to provide both physical and emotional support to their partner. 
Many health centers focus entirely on the patient guiding them on pre and post-psychological techniques to maintain a healthy lifestyle, ignoring their spouse. When your partner is unaware of what needs to be done and why, they find it difficult to help and understand your emotions and needs. Including your spouse in every step of the process will help them better understand and support you.  
It has been said that weight-loss surgery makes a good marriage better, and a bad marriage worse. These words may ring true, and couples who understand each other well before going into surgery may  emerge stronger than before. 
The take home message: we encourage spouses to come to appointments pre and post-op…ask questions, attend support groups, let your bariatric providers know of any concerns.
 
posted at: 2016-03-01 09:53:00, last updated: 2016-03-01 09:53:33
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