Measuring distress in patients with morbid obesity in the United States of America: A replication of the Obesity Adjustment Survey using online patients who are involved with bariatric surgery

Psychological distress is an issue for patients who struggle from the long-term effects of morbid obesity. This research was a replication of the 1999 study done by Butler et al. with a sample of Canadian patients with morbid obesity who were assessed both pre- and postsurgery with the obesity-specific instrument, the Obesity Adjustment Survey/Short Form (OAS). The OAS was designed to measure distress related to obesity. The current research question was whether or not the OAS could be effectively used with a sample of American patients who suffer from morbid obesity. The methodology was designed to statistically compare the distress levels of two sample groups of morbidly obese Americans, one that has had weight loss surgery and one that has not. The American sample was selected from a population of patients with morbid obesity who participated in obesity-related Internet support groups. The results from the American sample were compared with the Butler et al. study. Fourteen hundred ninety-four (n = 1494) patients voluntarily participated in the research. Research suggested that the information was consistent with Butler's previous results. The American sample was similar to the Canadian sample; the samples not having WLS showed elevated distress levels and following WLS distress levels decreased significantly, and distress levels decreased proportionally to the length of time since surgery. In all three hypotheses P = .000. This study offers American surgery treatment teams with a valid obesity-specific tool for assessing, treating, and providing aftercare to patients with morbid obesity.