Background

Sustained weight loss and improved health after bariatric surgery require patients to adhere to healthy post-surgical lifestyles, including physical activity (PA). Physical literacy is a holistic, multifaceted concept fundamental to participation in lifelong PA. Physical literacy and its relationship to motivation for PA is currently void from bariatric patients pre-surgical journey.

Methods

This study explored a post-bariatric surgical patient population at two hospitals in Indiana. It assessed if there was a relationship between perceived physical literacy and motivation to engage in PA after bariatric surgery.

Results

This quantitative, non-experimental single-stage survey study used a cross-sectional design. The population was a homogeneous, convenience, non-random sampling of post-bariatric surgical patients who completed email or postal mailed survey.

Conclusions

A total of 128 respondents were included in the final sample. Bivariate correlations revealed significant associations between PPLI Summary score (r = .44, p < .001), sub-scales of Knowledge and Understanding (r = .57, p < .001) and Sense of Self (r = .35, p < .001) with the Autonomous Motivation Index. Linear regression analysis showed that the model significantly predicted the Autonomous Motivation Index F(2, 125) = 23.54, p < .001, adjusted R2 = .31. The Knowledge and Understanding score, which significantly contributed to the model (p < .001), increased by one unit and the Autonomous Motivation Index score increased by 1.37. No significant correlations were found between age, motivation, or perceived physical literacy (p > .05), suggesting perceived physical literacy (PPL) may contribute to motivating post-bariatric surgical patients’ PA engagement.