Date of Submission

2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Robert DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP

Second Advisor

Michelle Lent, PhD

Third Advisor

Rosemarie Ann Basile-Szulc, PhD

Abstract

Obesity is a major health issue in the United States. More than two thirds of the adult population is considered to be either overweight or obese. It is the fifth leading cause of mortality in the world, with 3.4 million deaths a year. Obesity is associated with numerous medical and psychological comorbidities. There are various types of treatments for obesity, such as diets, exercise and pharmacological agents; however, bariatric surgery is one of the most effective and proven treatments for morbidly obese patients. Although the bariatric surgery success rates are high, up to 30% percent of individuals do not achieve successful weight loss after surgery. The major predictors of weight loss success for bariatric surgery are often dependent on presurgical variables. This study investigated five preoperative variables associated with weight loss following bariatric surgery: overeating behaviors, cravings, social isolation, affect disturbance, and preoperative weight loss. No significant differences were found, but the results were congruent with previous findings that an individual’s age and BMI were negatively correlated with successful postoperative weight loss. Recommendations for future studies are provided to explore the importance of preoperative factors in long-term success following bariatric surgery.

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