Abstract
Purpose of ReviewThis review describes the latest evidence for the impact of bariatric surgery on health-related quality of life (HRQL).Recent FindingsThe impact of bariatric surgery on HRQL is less well-understood than its clinical effectiveness on weight and co-morbidities. Poor-quality study design and different HRQL measures challenge systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Available limited evidence suggests that physical aspects of HRQL may improve more than mental health aspects of HRQL after bariatric surgery, reaching maximal benefits 1–2 years post-surgery. Comparative HRQL analyses between bariatric procedures cannot be made due to a lack of randomised data. Qualitative research highlights the tensions patients experience after bariatric surgery, which provides insights to observed changes in HRQL.SummaryStandardized HRQL measures are being developed and agreed to improve future evidence synthesis. Two multi-centre randomised trials of bariatric surgical procedures including detailed HRQL assessment are in progress. It is hoped that the combination of comparative high-quality HRQL data and information from qualitative studies will provide new insights into patient well-being and health after bariatric surgery.
Highlights
Over 650 million or 13% of adults worldwide are living with obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2), representing a tripling of figures since 1975 [1]
Effective public health initiatives are critically important to prevent future obesity; experts agree these are not sufficient to achieve weight loss in those already living with obesity, those with severe and complex obesity (BMI of ≥ 40 kg/m2, or 35–40 kg/m2 with another significant health problem that could be improved by weight loss), who are at the highest risk of morbidity and premature death [8–10]
Severe and complex obesity has a negative impact on the psychosocial aspects of health, including health-related quality of life (HRQL)
Summary
Over 650 million or 13% of adults worldwide are living with obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2), representing a tripling of figures since 1975 [1]. In people with severe and complex obesity, bariatric surgery is the most clinically effective treatment, leading to greater weight loss and improvement in control of type 2 diabetes, compared with lifestyle interventions or drug therapy alone [9, 12, 13]. Current data show that proportions of each of these procedures are 46.0%, 38.2%, 5.0% and 7.6%, respectively [14] Each of these procedures works slightly differently; mechanisms include restriction in the amount of food able to be consumed, reduction in hunger, improvement in satiety, shift in food preferences and altered gut hormones, bile acids and vagal signalling [15]. The clinical benefits of bariatric surgery are well-established, the impact of bariatric surgery on psychosocial outcomes such as health-related quality of life (HRQL) is less clear. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of psychosocial outcomes when evaluating interventions for obesity such as bariatric surgery, and to describe the latest evidence for the impact of bariatric surgery on HRQL
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
