Weight Loss Information

Worldwide, the incidence of obesity is rising, (1) leading to a related increase in obesity-associated comorbidities and directly affecting longevity and quality of life. Obesity is noted not only to result in social and economic problems, but also to decrease longevity and increase morbidity risks. (2) In 2001, the Surgeon General reported that 300,000 deaths annually are the result of obesity. (3)

According to Raum and Martin, (4) the only effective treatment for morbid obesity and its comorbid conditions is bariatric surgery, such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. No medications; lifestyle changes; or psychotherapeutic, acupuncture, hypnosis, or nutrition programs remotely approach the capacity of bariatric surgery to reduce or eliminate the diseases caused or exacerbated by morbid obesity?

The primary purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to determine how patients evaluated their quality of life before and after gastric bypass surgery. This project also measured changes in four conditions or comorbidities frequently associated with the diagnosis of morbid obesity (ie, hypertension, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, hyperlipidemia) by comparing preoperative medication use to postoperative medication use.

Another goal was to gain information concerning bariatric surgery to share with and improve the understanding of perioperative staff members involved in the care and safe passage of these patients through the surgical experience. For perioperative nurses, part of the understanding includes acknowledging potential personal bias and discrimination toward patients who are obese. In essence, this was an exploration for deeper understanding of people facing not only life-and-death health issues, but also the psychosocial stigma of obesity.

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