Bariatric surgery is recognized as the most efficient technique for helping patients lose weight. Despite generally observed average results, bariatric patients (BP) tend to overestimate their potential postsurgical weight loss. Some studies have shown that these unrealistic weight-loss expectations (WLEs) could influence satisfaction. The aims of this study were to evaluate the WLE in a French bariatric sample and to identify psychological factors that could play a role in the development of WLE.
Methods:
A total of 304 BP (age = 38.48 ± 11.43 years; body mass index [BMI] = 43.04 ± 5.62; women = 71.4%) completed a measure of their expected post-treatment weight, the second part of the Goals and Relative Weights Questionnaire and questionnaires measuring psychological characteristics.
Results:
Our sample's mean weight-loss goal was equivalent to losing 92.46% of their excess weight. Regression analyses showed that body dissatisfaction affected all weight-loss goals. Baseline BMI is another factor influencing WLE except for the disappointed weight, for which depression level appears to be a slightly influential predictor.
Conclusions:
Confirming previous results, BP present unrealistic WLE. A lower baseline BMI and higher level of body dissatisfaction predict more unrealistic WLE. These results highlight the need to take into account body dissatisfaction in bariatric care to moderate the WLE in BP and their postoperative consequences.
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