Health behaviors & weight loss strategies among surgical and non-surgical weight loss seekers

Abstract

The rate of obesity in the US population continues to rise, with 42.7% of adults having obesity in 2018. Increased pressure to achieve weight loss for cultural and/or health reasons leads many to seek weight loss through various means. The objective of this study was to assess whether differences exist in health behaviors and weight loss strategies between those who underwent weight loss surgery (WLS) and those seeking non-surgical weight loss (NSWL). This cross-sectional study used data from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted statistical analyses included descriptives, ANOVAs, and chi-square tests. There was no significant difference between the two groups in dietary quality (p = .12), but those who underwent WLS consumed less calories than those seeking NSWL (p < .001). Those who underwent WLS had 50% lower odds of meeting physical activity recommendations and endorsed higher use of healthy weight loss strategies (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.01–0.05) compared to NSWL participants. As WLS directly impacts patients’ eating, WLS patients may be able to modify eating habits more so than physical activity level. • No differences were found in the dietary quality of WLS and NWLS. • WLS had lower odds of meeting exercise guidelines compared to NWLS. • WLS reported more adaptive weight loss strategies compared to NWLS.