An Exploration of the Outcomes of Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity: Patient Characteristics and Indices of Success

Background: The search for replicable predictors of the outcomes of surgical intervention for obesity has proven challenging, with patient selection being a recurrent theme in bariatric literature. Methods: In this study, 20 gastric bypass patients were interviewed at an average of 2 years following surgery. Subjects provided extensive data relating to their characteristics and experiences. Results: Statistical analyses were undertaken to establish likely predictors of success, both in terms of percentage of excess weight lost and in broader terms. It was found that self-esteem, some scales of the Adjective Checklist, and valuing of food and eating related to a successful outcome. Conclusion: Recommendations are made regarding an interview schedule for pre-operative assessment, and a prospective study to evaluate its predictive power is proposed.