The predictive value of the self-regulation capacity for the compliance with postoperative behavioral prescriptions after bariatric surgery in morbid obesity: predictor for success?

Bariatric surgery, a collective noun for different procedures of surgical gastric reduction, is an affective treatment for patients with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index >= 40). In approximately 20-30% of the cases, however, an insufficient result (in terms of especially weight loss) is gained. For the treatment to be affective, the patients have to make adjustments in their way of living (eating and exercising) after the surgery. Many studies have tried to find psychological predictors of success. The results, however, are ambiguous, non consistent or even contradictory. The self-regulation capacity as a possible predictor has scarcely been investigated. Besides, most studies are not concerned with the measure of compliance with postoperative behavioral prescriptions. The hypotheses are that the self-regulation capacity is a predictor of success and that the measure of compliance with postoperative behavioral prescriptions is a mediator between the self-regulation capacity and success in terms of weight loss, quality of life and satisfaction with the result of the treatment.
The study is an observational study.

Self-regulation capacity is a predictor of compliance after bariatric surgery.
Self-regulation capacity is a predictor of success after bariatric surgery (weight loss, quality of life, satisfaction).
Compliance is a predictor of success (weight loss, quality of life, satisfaction).
Compliance is a mediator between self-regulation capacity and success.

- pretest (1-3 months before surgery)

- postoperative: 3-6-12-18-24 months

- after that every year for the next three years

No interventions are object of the study.

The study is an obervational study, using self-report questionnaires.