Comparing Lifestyle and Behavior of Post-Bariatric Surgery and Participants with Obesity: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Nora A Althumiri; Nasser F BinDhim; Abdulaziz E Aldabaeab; Norah AlMousa; Ruqayah Ahmed Aljabbary; Arwa Alumran

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S440209

Comparing Lifestyle and Behavior of Post-Bariatric Surgery and Participants with Obesity: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024 Jan 3:17:31-44. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S440209. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Nora A Althumiri^{1

2}, Nasser F BinDhim^{1

2}, Abdulaziz E Aldabaeab³, Norah AlMousa², Ruqayah Ahmed Aljabbary², Arwa Alumran⁴

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Department, Informed Decision Making (IDM), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Scientific Department, Sharik Association for Research and Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Obesity Department, King Fahad Hospital of the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of research dedicated to exploring behavioral change in patients following bariatric surgery. However, there is a need for comparison analysis of individuals with obesity who have received surgical treatment and those who have not opted for any surgical procedures for weight loss. This study is designed to scrutinize the lifestyle choices, behavioral patterns, psychological elements, and eating habits of individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery, in contrast to those with obesity who have not undergone such a procedure.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis from Sharik Diet and Health National Survey (SDHNS) dataset, which is a cross-sectional investigation covering the period from 2020 to 2022. The study focused on demographic factors like age, gender, educational attainment, and monthly earnings. Furthermore, other variables such as physical activity, leisure and workplace sitting habits, smoking patterns, strategies for managing weight, and eating and consumption behaviors were also examined.

Results: Out of the initial 15,980 participants reached, 4,069 satisfied the study's inclusion criteria. Bariatric surgery was reported by 806 participants (19.8%). Upon comparing three obesity status groups - The participants who underwent bariatric surgery with or without obesity, those with obesity who did not opt for any surgical weight loss measure, the analysis found that the three obesity status groups were significantly different in 21 variables from a total of 26. Moreover, a logistic regression analysis revealed that 11 variables influenced persistent obesity in the post-surgery phase, as opposed to those who successfully lost weight. These variables included advanced age, limited education, being female, lower income, waterpipe smoking habits, and the consumption of carbonated drinks.

Conclusion: This study showed that inability to lose weight after bariatric surgery are linked to poor lifestyle choices and behavior compared to those who were able to lose weight after the surgery.

Keywords: bariatric surgery; obesity; weight loss; weight loss intervention; weight recurrence.

Grants and funding

No external funding was procured for this research.