Observational studyPloS one2018
'The only chance of a normal weight life': A qualitative analysis of online forum discussions about bariatric surgery.
Observational study in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Social media use among patients before and after metabolic and bariatric surgery: a systematic review.Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery · 2025Pooled it
- When People With Chronic Conditions Turn to Peers on Social Media to Obtain and Share Information: Systematic Review of the Implications for Relationships With Health Care Professionals.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Pooled it
- Information Seeking and Engagement on Social Media Among Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients and Their Families.Pediatric transplantation · 2026Article
- 'Journal of health psychology · 2025Article
- The experiences and informational needs of women electing bariatric surgery: A qualitative content analysis of an online support forum.Journal of health psychology · 2025Article
- What Aspects Promote Health and Well-Being Among Autistic Adults and How Can They Be Incorporated Into Nursing Care? A Theoretical Podcast-Based Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciences · 2025Article
- Long Term Patient Experiences After Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery: A Phenomenological Study.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2025Article
- Online Search Trends Related to Bariatric Surgery and Their Relationship with Utilization in Australia.Obesity surgery · 2024Article
- Analysis of the dental care queries in the "Mouth-Nose" discussion forum of the French association of patients with Gougerot-Sjögren's syndromes and dryness.BMC oral health · 2022Observational
- ZoomForward2022: European Congress on Obesity.Obesity facts · 2022Article
- Social Support for People with Morbid Obesity in a Bariatric Surgery Programme: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Digital Support for Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Narrative Review of the Roles and Challenges of Online Forums.JMIR perioperative medicine · 2020Review
- Application and effectiveness of eHealth strategies for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review.Digital healthReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe only effective weight loss treatment for severe obesity is bariatric surgery, with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass being the most common method. Patients often have unrealistic expectations of surgery and expect a "miracle cure" even though the procedure requires major lifelong lifestyle changes. Most patients access information about the procedure online, and come into contact with others who have had the surgery.
objectiveThe objective of this study was to describe shared values, feelings, and thoughts among visitors to a web-based forum for those undergoing bariatric surgery.
methodsIn this cross-sectional observation study using qualitative contents analysis, the material consisted of an online discussion forum thread about bariatric surgery, with 498 posts. These were saved in a document, read and re-read. Through coding of meaningful units of text, themes were established.
resultsFour themes were constructed during data analysis: a) A new life-anticipating dramatic changes of body and mind; b) Negotiating the system and playing the waiting game; c) A means to an end-managing the pre-operative diet; and d) Managing the attitudes of others. Posters described the process of bariatric surgery as a journey, riddled with roadblocks, setbacks and trials, but also with joy and expectations of a new life.
conclusionProfessionals who encounter this group should be aware of their need for support throughout the process, and investigate the possibility of both pre- and postoperative support groups, either online or face-to-face. The results also show that the posters on the forum had very high, and often unrealistic, expectations on how the surgery would change their lives. It is important for those who encounter this group before surgery to be aware of this tendency and to take measures to ensure that patients undergo the surgery with realistic expectations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.