Self-efficacy after bariatric surgery for obesity. A population-based cohort study

Background: Eating behaviors often predict outcomes after bariatric surgery, and in this regard, self-efficacy has been shown to predict long-term behavior. We examined current eating self-efficacy in post-bariatric surgery patients comparing them to obese non-surgery patients to determine whether weight loss is associated with increased self-efficacy in post-bariatric surgery patients. Methods: We performed a population-based study of patients evaluated for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and administered a survey using the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle (WEL) Questionnaire. There were 148 surgical and 88 non-operative patients who responded. Overall WEL score was assessed using linear regression models. Predictors of an increased self-efficacy score were also examined. Results: Follow-up was 4.0 and 3.8 years in the operative and non-operative groups, respectively. Operative responders were slightly older and had a lesser BMI compared to non-responders, otherwise the demographics were similar. Difference in overall WEL between groups was 25.5 ± 5.3 points on a 0–180 scale. A 25% change in weight was associated with a difference of 15.4 points on the total WEL between groups. Current self-efficacy scores were highly related to weight loss and correlated to quality of life at follow-up (ρ = 0.36). Conclusion: Profound weight loss after bariatric surgery is associated with increased eating self-efficacy in a population of obese adults seeking medical treatment for obesity.