Quality of Life after Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Objective: Numerous reports document significant weight loss after gastric bypass; however, there is little objective data on postsurgical changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Research Methods and Procedures: This study examined HRQL in four groups of patients: presurgery (T1), several weeks postsurgery (T2), 6 months postsurgery (T3), and 1 year postsurgery (T4). Subjects were given three HRQL measures: the short form 36 (SF‐36), the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite Questionnaire (IWQOL‐Lite), and the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS). Subjects also completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSE). Results: There were no significant differences among the groups on demographics or presurgical body mass index. Results showed significant differences between T1 and T2 on several SF‐36 and IWQOL‐Lite subscales, as well as the RSE and BDI. Significant differences were found on all measures between T2 and T3. Significant differences were found on all subscales of the IWQOL‐Lite, but no subscales of the SF‐36, the RSE, or the BDI between T3 and T4. Discussion: This study is the first to objectively document these differences in several objective measures of HRQL, depression, and self‐esteem after gastric bypass in a large sample. It is notable that many differences are apparent within several weeks after surgery. Furthermore, results indicate that the IWQOL‐Lite may be more sensitive than the SF‐36 to the changes of quality of life that gastric bypass patients report.