Social and Personal Outcomes of Weight Loss Surgery Patients
Weight loss surgery is increasingly common in the United States; approximately 216,000 Americans underwent surgery in 2016 alone. While many medical and psychological elements of the surgery have been studied, researchers don’t know much about the long-term social and personal aspects of obesity surgery. This research project hopes to fill in that gap.
Dr. Patricia Drew, Associate Professor of Human Development and Women's Studies at California State University, East Bay, is especially interested in speaking with individuals who underwent weight loss surgery 3+ years ago. Interviews will discuss the following topics:
- If and how weight loss surgery continues to affect your life
- Interactions with family members and friends in the years after surgery
- Workplace experiences and interactions
- Your feelings about your self-concept, body and personal health
- How you currently view weight, obesity, and obese individuals
- If you are a parent: how you talk with your children about body size
If you decide to participate, you can share your experiences through an in-person interview, on the phone, or via email. More information is available via the research participation details link at the top of this page.
Research Significance: Your surgery experience – combined with many other patients’ experiences – will permit researchers, policy makers, and the general public to better understand how obesity surgery shapes individuals' lives. Research results may influence public policy and opinion.
Social and Personal Outcomes of Weight Loss Surgery Patients is a study undertaken at California State University, East Bay.
This research has been approved by CSU, East Bay's Human Subjects Research and Review Committee.
The study is partially funded by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects at CSU, East Bay.