Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of young women undergoing weight loss surgery in relation to quality of life and health behaviour issues with a focus on reproductive health. This is in light of the increasing numbers of women who have unsuccessfully tried conventional weight loss approaches and are now opting for surgical interventions in order to gain control of their weight and better assimilate into society. Weight loss operations refer to a collection of permanent and reversible surgical techniques collectively known as Bariatric Surgery (“BS”), which have been demonstrated to be an effective and viable treatment to sustain weight-loss in the severely obese. These operations are unique in that they also have a positive influence on other medical conditions and aid long-term health, including resolving menstrual irregularities leading to improved female fertility. In recent years there has been an increase in women aged 18-25 years who have undergone BS. This age bracket correlates with the natural ‘peak’ in fertility and inevitably leads to some early post-surgery pregnancies with an increase in the risk of adverse health issues for both mother and (foetal development) child. Seven women (aged 18-25 years) responded via an on-line tool to share their experiences of undergoing BS, in one to one recorded interviews conducted via Skype. All had undergone surgery within the private sector and were 6-24 months post-surgery at the time of the interview. Thematic framework was used to analysis and understand the personal narratives and identify semantic themes. The participants described their experiences in terms of three broad themes i) identifying a problem, ii) seeking help and iii) reality check. Transcending these themes was the ‘cost’ which linked with the Subjective Expected Utility (SEU) Theory being the theoretical framework underpinning this study, based on the decision making model of behaviour (Edward 1954). The majority of the participants described feeling optimistic after-surgery, however this was balanced against various costs (trade-offs) of positive/negative experiences and outcomes with a realisation for some that psychological issues still needed to be addressed. These findings provide an insight to the physical and psychological experiences of young women who have undergone BS and offer awareness for health care professional and prospective participants considering/preparing to undergo BS.