LAUSR

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had far reaching consequences on the health and well-being of the general public. Evidence from previous pandemics suggest that bariatric patients may experience increased emotional distress and difficulty adhering to healthy lifestyle changes post-surgery. Objective We aimed to examine the impact of the novel COVID-19 public health crisis on patients’ self-management after bariatric surgery. Method In a nested-qualitative study, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 23 post-operative bariatric patients who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) at a Canadian Bariatric Surgery Program between 2014 -2020. A constant comparative approach was used to systematically analyze the data and identify the overarching themes. Results Participants (n=23) had a mean age of (48.82 ± 10.03) years and most were female (n=19). The median time post-surgery was 2 years (range: 6 months – 7 years). Themes describing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ post-bariatric surgery self-management included: coping with COVID-19; vulnerability factors and physical isolation; resiliency factors during pandemic; and valuing access to support by virtual care. The effects of COVID-19 on bariatric surgery after care differed based on gender and socioeconomic status. Conclusion This study showed the novel COVID-19 pandemic has impacted patients’ ability to self-manage obesity and their mental health in a variety of ways. These findings suggest that patients may experience unique psychological distress and challenges requiring personalized care strategies to improve obesity self-care and overall well-being.