Obesity Surgery: Stories of Altered Lives

Obesity is a major national health problem, and science has been developing a number of ways to address it. The most revolutionary is surgical intervention to alter the gastrointestinal system so that less food/nutrients can be consumed and/or absorbed. People who undergo this surgery usually experience drastic weight loss and dramatic health improvements. They also discover a new sense of self and face challenges often unimaginable when they were obese.

Obesity Surgery is based on interviews with thirty-three gastric-bypass patients reflecting on life before and after surgery. The patients' stories vividly describe the frustrations of limited mobility and energy, as well as the sometimes heartbreaking isolation of the obese in a society that views excessive weight as a character flaw. The changes they encountered as their weight declined were sometimes exhilarating, sometimes bewildering. They had to deal with varied reactions of family members and associates, complications of romance and dating, and a new self-image. They also had to confront the factors that made them obese in the first place, and follow a severely restricted diet. They often had to learn that many of the problems they had attributed to their obesity were still there after they lost weight. Using these interviews as a foundation, the authors summarize the typical path that most post-surgery patients follow and present a step-by-step program to help individuals considering surgery or who have already had it anticipate and manage the many changes they will experience.

Obesity Surgery is for people deliberating about whether or not to have weight-loss surgery and will prepare patients-along with their health-careprofessionals, families, and friends-for the psychological changes and social challenges that lie ahead. It also offers the general public an insider's perspective on the emotional, physical, and social problems that often accompany severe obesity.

About the Author:
Marta Meana is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

About the Author:
Lindsey Ricciardi is director of behavioral health services at Creative Health Solutions, an interdisciplinary weight-management program in Las Vegas