Överviktsopererade patienters kroppsuppfattning och övergångsprocess efter kraftig viktminskning

Sammanfattning: The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of individuals who had undergone obesity surgery and subsequent dramatic weight loss. Specific attention was given to the individuals’ changing body image and the support they had received during their transition process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five people who had undergone an obesity surgery, and subsequently lost at least three clothes sizes of their original weight. The interviews were analyzed with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and resulted in six main themes; Satisfied or still dissatisfied with their body; Cannot eat as usual anymore; Concerns about weight change; Positive self-development; Walking on the tightrope of body image; Lack of support from health care afterwards. After the surgery, the participants’ felt they had gained control of their previous inadequately food intake. The dramatic weight loss had contributed to positive aspects such as increased self-development and awareness. Some were dissatisfied with their new body because of loss of body shape and hanging excess skin, and some had experienced a discrepancy between their outer and inner body image. Several participants expressed that they were afraid of a possible unwanted weight change and that they lacked strategies to deal with this if the situation arose. Furthermore, it emerged that several of the participants were disappointed about the health care afterwards. They felt left out partly because of a lack of psychological support and financial resources to address the troublesome excess skin, but also because they got quite short and inadequate information about the psychological consequences of undergoing an obesity surgery. As a whole, the results show that an obesity surgery involves a radical change for the individual, and that the health care can be improved in several aspects.