Background

Obesity is one of the most significant global public health concerns. Bariatric surgery, a gold-standard treatment for obesity, is used by Cooper University Health Care (CUH). Long-term success of bariatric surgery is dependent on various behavioral, social, and psychological factors. CUH serves a diverse, urban population that embodies unique characteristics, some of which potentially serve as a barrier to achieving post-operative success. The initial goal of this study is to better understand the distinct psychosocial factors that either promote or inhibit weight loss and maintenance in CUH patients. Each candidate for bariatric surgery at CUH is required to be evaluated by a licensed psychologist. This evaluation includes a semi-structured clinical interview that assesses the patient's demographics, social history, current and past eating behaviors, and psychiatric history. Data from this study was collected from patients who received bariatric surgery at CUH between 2015 to 2020 (N = 113, 82.3% female, 59.3% white, non-Hispanic, mean age = 45.4 years). Patients lost an average of 73.7 lbs. 2 years after surgery. Patients who attended college, including those who did not graduate, and graduate school, lost significantly more weight than patients who did not attend college [f(5,107) = .2.359, p < .05]. As this study is in the early, preliminary stages of data collection and analysis, future studies will also focus on the impacts of psychological functioning (e.g., disordered eating, depression, and anxiety) on weight loss.