Impact of visual body image feedback on patient self-efficacy following gastric bypass surgery

The current study evaluated the effect of visual body image feedback on patient self-efficacy and lifestyle adherence following gastric bypass surgery using a qualitative, longitudinal, multiple case study design. Eight participants scheduled to undergo gastric bypass surgery were recruited and randomly assigned to receive weight and body mass index (BMI) feedback or extended visual body image feedback from the NX-16 Body Scanning System. It was hypothesized that participants who received visual body image feedback would have greater postoperative weight loss success due to improved scores on the Nutrition and Physical Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, leading to increased adherence to the postoperative lifestyle as measured by the Scale of Patient Adherence to a Gastric Bypass Postoperative Lifestyle. Pattern matching was utilized to assess the data.;The results suggested that visual body image feedback helped participants to maintain high levels of self-efficacy one year following gastric bypass surgery. Due to the small sample size and missed data points over the longitudinal year, the statistical impact of the visual feedback could not be determined; however, information from qualitative interviews indicated that most participants viewed the visual feedback to be a main contributor to their weight loss success, motivation, and adherence. Additionally, many participants also identified taking the repeated measures of self-efficacy, adherence, weight impact, body image, and motivation to be helpful reminders, as well as ways of holding themselves accountable. Although level of self-efficacy itself did not predict level of adherence or weight loss progress, erratic levels of self-efficacy and motivation were associated with poor participant adherence and weight loss progress. Adherence was positively associated with weight loss, both between participants and at particular points in time for individual participants. As participants lost weight, body image satisfaction increased and the impact of their weight on quality of life decreased. These results suggest providers should focus on increasing adherence in order to increase postoperative success in gastric bypass patients. By providing patients with frequent detailed body and weight related feedback, providers can help patients to more accurately assess their physical body and self-perception and increase awareness of minor changes in weight loss progress.