Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Corinne Bridges

Abstract

Obesity remains a significant problem linked to psychological, behavioral, metabolic, and environmental factors. Some individuals who struggle with obesity turn to weight loss surgery. Studies exploring the long-term effects of weight loss surgery and its connection with transfer addiction have reached conflicting findings. This phenomenological study was conducted according to procedures developed by Husserl and Giorgi. Data were collected for this qualitative study through semistructured interviews with 10 bariatric weight loss surgery recipients. Data were analyzed using the five stages of Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method process of data analysis. Analysis of the data led to five themes and eight subthemes. The five themes were (a) the mental effects of weight loss surgery, (b) altered relationship with food, (c) from overeating to overindulging in another addictive behavior, (d) faster rates of alcohol intoxication, and (e) counseling should be a prerequisite for surgery. The eight subthemes were (a) coping with emotions surrounding food presurgery, (b) psychological connections to food, (c) challenging to cope with emotions after weight loss surgery, (d) challenges coping with weight regain after weight loss surgery, (e) challenges with social engagement after weight loss surgery, (f) counseling needed after weight loss surgery, (g) benefited from attending a weight loss surgery support group, and (h) counseling was not a requirement for surgery. The results of this study have potential implications for positive social change by providing quality data to augment existing data to assist counseling professionals with educating potential weight loss candidates about the side effects of bariatric weight loss surgery and its potential impact on psychological health.

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