The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Young Women's Quality of Life, Health Behaviours and Reproductive Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Young Women's Quality of Life, Health Behaviours and Reproductive Health
IRAS ID
184559
Contact name
Marie McCormack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to explore the impact of bariatric surgery on quality-of-life (mood, health status, self-esteem, body image) and health behaviours (diet, exercise, sexual health) with an emphasis on contraception and reproductive health on women between of 18 – 25 years.
Obesity is more prevalent in women (HSCIC 2014), and is a combination of physical and psychological complexities, normally experienced with a host of negative health conditions such as diabetes type 2, menstrual disorders, (Bandealy 2012), all of which act as contributors to diminish quality-of-life.
Bariatric surgery has demonstrated to be an effective and viable treatment (Buchwald 2004), aiding and sustaining up to 15-25% weight-loss (RCOG), have a positive influence on medical conditions e.g. restore monthly periods leading to improved fertility (Johansson, 2015)
Menstrual disorders experienced by obese women may mean that contraceptives are not perceived as necessary (Bandealy 2012) and/or advice on contraceptive health not actively sort (Bajos 2010). In comparison with the general population, obese women have limited contraceptive choices because of obesity health-related conditions and these options decrease further, initially post-bariatric surgery (Farahi 2013). As weight reduces and stabilises so contraceptive choices increase, but this does not necessarily reflect uptake.
The number of young women in this cohort undergoing bariatric surgery is increasing (NBSR, 2014) and whilst there are data to indicate improved quality-of-life post-operatively (Lindekilde 2015, Wimmelmann 2014) with women of child-bearing age (18-45 years) (Alatishe 2013) there is limited literature on health behaviours of younger women.
This mixed method study draws attention to a specific cohort of obese females (18-25 years) and a ‘niche’ timeframe, which corresponds with a natural peak in fertility (Rosenthal 2002), and coincides with limited contraception options (HSCIC, 2014) and as such are at risk of becoming pregnant sooner than planned.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0242
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion