Daniel Gero1, Bálint File2, Noreen Hinrichs1, Matteo Mueller1, István Ulbert3, Zoltán Somogyvári4, Marco Bueter5. 1. Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary; Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. 3. Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. 4. Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. 5. Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: marco.bueter@usz.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mindset and communication barriers may hinder the acceptance of bariatric surgery (BS) by the eligible patient population. OBJECTIVES: To improve the understanding of expectations, opinions, emotions, and attitudes toward weight loss among patients with obesity. SETTING: Switzerland, Germany, Austria. METHODS: Survey data collected from BS-related social media communities (n = 1482). Participants were asked to write 5 words that first came to their mind about "weight loss," and to select 2 emotions, which best described their corresponding feelings. Demographic and obesity-related data were collected. Cognitive representations were constructed based on the co-occurrence network of associations, using validated data-driven methodology. RESULTS: Respondents were Caucasian (98%), female (94%), aged 42.5 ± 10.1 years, current/highest lifetime body mass index = 36.9 ± 9/50.7 ± 8.7 kg/m2. The association network analysis revealed the following 2 cognitive modules: benefit-focused (health, attractiveness, happiness, agility) and procedure-focused (effort, diet, sport, surgery). Patients willing to undergo BS were more benefit-focused (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, P = .02) and expressed more "hope" (OR = 142, P < .001). History of BS was associated with higher adherence to the procedure-focused module (OR = 2.3, P < .001), and with increased use of the emotions "gratitude" (OR = 107, P < .001), "pride" (OR = 15, P < .001), and decreased mention of "hope" (OR = .03, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients with obesity in our study tend to think about weight loss along 2 cognitive schemes, either emphasizing its expected benefits or focusing on the process of achieving it. Benefit-focused respondents were more likely to consider BS, and to express hope rather than gratitude or pride. Novel communication strategies may increase the acceptance of BS by incorporating weight loss-related cognitive and emotional content stemming from patients' free associations.
BACKGROUND: Mindset and communication barriers may hinder the acceptance of bariatric surgery (BS) by the eligible patient population. OBJECTIVES: To improve the understanding of expectations, opinions, emotions, and attitudes toward weight loss among patients with obesity. SETTING: Switzerland, Germany, Austria. METHODS: Survey data collected from BS-related social media communities (n = 1482). Participants were asked to write 5 words that first came to their mind about "weight loss," and to select 2 emotions, which best described their corresponding feelings. Demographic and obesity-related data were collected. Cognitive representations were constructed based on the co-occurrence network of associations, using validated data-driven methodology. RESULTS: Respondents were Caucasian (98%), female (94%), aged 42.5 ± 10.1 years, current/highest lifetime body mass index = 36.9 ± 9/50.7 ± 8.7 kg/m2. The association network analysis revealed the following 2 cognitive modules: benefit-focused (health, attractiveness, happiness, agility) and procedure-focused (effort, diet, sport, surgery). Patients willing to undergo BS were more benefit-focused (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, P = .02) and expressed more "hope" (OR = 142, P < .001). History of BS was associated with higher adherence to the procedure-focused module (OR = 2.3, P < .001), and with increased use of the emotions "gratitude" (OR = 107, P < .001), "pride" (OR = 15, P < .001), and decreased mention of "hope" (OR = .03, P < .001). CONCLUSION:Patients with obesity in our study tend to think about weight loss along 2 cognitive schemes, either emphasizing its expected benefits or focusing on the process of achieving it. Benefit-focused respondents were more likely to consider BS, and to express hope rather than gratitude or pride. Novel communication strategies may increase the acceptance of BS by incorporating weight loss-related cognitive and emotional content stemming from patients' free associations.
Authors: Luiz Torres Neto; Maria Lúcia Guerra Monteiro; Fernanda Medeiros Viana; Carlos Adam Conte-Junior Journal: J Sens Stud Date: 2022-04-26 Impact factor: 2.831
Authors: Jeannette Widmer; Daniel Gero; Barbara Sommerhalder; Daniela Alceste; Ivana Raguz; Michele Serra; René Vonlanthen; Marco Bueter; Andreas Thalheimer Journal: Clin Obes Date: 2021-12-08