Physical activity with hindrances: a qualitative study of post bariatric patients’ experiences of physical activity in relation to excess skin

Abstract

A common side effect after massive weight loss is excess skin. Knowledge about the experience of excess skin in relation to physical activity is limited. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how post bariatric surgery patients experience physical activity in relation to excess skin. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were performed with individuals who experienced excess skin after massive weight loss after bariatric surgery. The interviews were transcribed, and data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. An overall theme emerged, that the body was still a hindrance for physical activity but now because of excess skin. There were major changes in the participants’ ability to be active after the weight loss, but there were still obstacles and some of them remained from the time when they were obese. The analysis resulted in three main categories containing the participants’ knowledge about, changes in and wishes for physical activity after weight loss, factors that affected the ability and the role of mental processes. The result contributes to increased knowledge about post bariatric patients’ experiences of excess skin in relation to physical activity. After weight loss, the body was still a hindrance for physical activity but now because of excess skin. As physical activity is important for general health, excess skin inhibiting physical activity ought to be an indicator for reconstructive surgery.

Keywords:

• Excess skin
• physical activity
• qualitative

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee for the region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. (Registration number: 723-08).

Informed consent

The patients were included after written and oral information was given and written consent obtained.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research and Development Council for Gothenburg and Southern Bohuslän under grant number [VGFOUGSB-45781] and the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement under grant number [ALFGBG-724001].