Introduction:
Weight loss surgery (WLS) is widely regarded as the most effective intervention for severe obesity and its related comorbidities (Arterburn et al., 2020). Despite this, approximately 20% of patients experience significant weight regain (Noria et al., 2023). Current research has largely focused on physiological or behavioural explanations, while the psychological and relational dynamics of weight maintenance remain underexplored.
Purpose:
This symposium examines the role of healthcare professionals in shaping patients' experiences of death anxiety before and after WLS, and how this anxiety may influence long-term adherence to postoperative care and lifestyle changes. The session addresses a novel psychological dimension of WLS outcomes, contributing to emerging applied psychological research in health and well-being.
Method:
A convergent mixed-methods design was employed, with qualitative findings reported here. Six participants who underwent WLS were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with a focus on interactional patterns between healthcare professionals and patients across pre- and postoperative contexts.
Results:
Findings suggest that repeated references to imminent death by healthcare professionals contributed to the development and persistence of death anxiety in patients. Postoperatively, this anxiety was reactivated during experiences such as dumping syndrome. At the same time, death anxiety, combined with strong rapport with healthcare professionals, appeared to motivate greater adherence to care protocols and healthier lifestyle choices.
Conclusions:
The study highlights death anxiety as a previously overlooked psychological factor in WLS adjustment and weight maintenance. These findings open new directions in applied psychology by linking existential concerns with health behaviours, emphasising the importance of therapeutic intervention, pre- and postoperative education, and professional training. By situating death anxiety within healthcare interactions, this symposium contributes a unique perspective to the broader conversation on psychology's role in enhancing patient well-being and sustainable outcomes.