Lived Experience after Bariatric Surgery among Patients with Morbid Obesity in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia: A Qualitative Study

Siti Faezah Gullaam Rasul, Nani Draman, Rosediani Muhamad, Zainab Mat Yudin, Razlina Abdul Rahman, Samsul Draman and Mohd Nizam Md Hashim
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Siti Faezah Gullaam Rasul: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Nani Draman: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Rosediani Muhamad: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Zainab Mat Yudin: School of Dental Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Razlina Abdul Rahman: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Samsul Draman: Department of Family Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Kuantan 25200, Malaysia
Mohd Nizam Md Hashim: Department of Surgery, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: Living with morbid obesity is challenging since it affects various dimensions of life. Sustainable weight loss via bariatric surgery helps people suffering from morbid obesity to lead a healthy and meaningful life. This study highlights the challenges before bariatric surgery and the impact on one’s life. A phenomenological approach was employed using in-depth interviews with 21 participants (15 females and 6 males) who had undergone surgery at least 6 months prior to the study with the mean age of 42.6 years. Due to excess body weight, the physical limitation had a serious negative impact on their social life, making them targets of bias and stigmatisation. Surgery was the best option for them to attain sustainable weight loss and to lead a new life. However, a few participants struggled with the side effects of surgery. Five themes were discovered, namely, (1) social restraint; (2) experiencing bias and stigmatisation; (3) bringing new life; (4) boosting self-esteem; and (5) facing the negative side of surgery. This study serves as a platform to explore the difficulties faced by people with morbid obesity and the changes that the participants experienced after the surgery for future intervention to curb the rising number of people with morbid obesity.

Keywords: lived experience; bariatric surgery; obesity; morbid obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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