Abstract
Gastric banding is an established and effective form of weightloss surgery. Semi-structured interviews explored the experiences of gastric banding of twenty purposively recruited patients one year after surgery. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes emerged. They included ‘Exercising choice’ (restriction by the band was counterbalanced by new food-related choices.); ‘Rediscovering life’ (improved health, physical ability and energy enabled the patients to re-discover life.) and ‘Goals achieved with no regrets’ (patients had nearly achieved their self-set goals.) Conclusion: Beyond achieving weight loss and improved health, the participants had improved quality of life as defined by patients. Knowledge about this active process informs the care of these patients.
Highlights
Bariatric surgery is the most successful intervention in the long-term treatment of obesity and its comorbidities [1] with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) being one of the most commonly used techniques [2]
The actual level of restriction by the band is determined by its ‘fills’, saline injections that tighten the band and so set the actual level of restriction
Gastric banding is a restrictive procedure, it reduces the amount of food that can be eaten without affecting the absorption of micronutrients and induces early and prolonged satiety through mediation by the intra-ganglionic laminar endings of the vagus nerve [3]
Summary
Bariatric (weightloss) surgery is the most successful intervention in the long-term treatment of obesity and its comorbidities [1] with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) being one of the most commonly used techniques [2]. Obese patients undergoing weightloss surgery live longer and with less comorbidities than those who do not [5]. They experience significant psychological benefits [6]. The most notable issue arising from qualitative studies is that of control in relation to food and eating This relates to patients hoping to achieve control [8], balancing on the edge of being in control and of losing it [9] as well as those reporting that the band makes them feel in control [10,11]. This study is part of the continuing effort to illuminate the patient experience of WLS
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