Associations Between Romantic Relationship Factors and Body Mass Index Among Weight Loss Surgery Patients

Abstract

The current study utilized a sample of 183 patients, in romantic relationships, who were either pre‐ or post‐weight loss surgery (WLS), to assess (a) associations between romantic relationship factors and pre‐ and post‐surgery body mass index (BMI), (b) the positive and negative influences of obesity in romantic relationships, and (c) the influence of romantic relationship factors on BMI and the reciprocal. Correlations, confirmatory factor analysis, and multiple linear regression were conducted. Patients endorsed greater negative influence of obesity in their romantic relationships compared to positive influences, and their romantic relationship quality was predicted by several variables, including BMI, in pre‐ and post‐surgery patient groups.

Adult weight management patients' perceptions of family dynamics and weight status

“…The ECR‐RS provides both anxiety (three items) and avoidance (six items) in romantic relationships . The ECR‐RS is both reliable ( α = .93‐.95) and valid with diverse patients, including those with obesity . Cronbach's alpha in our sample was .87 and .89, for the anxiety and avoidance scales, respectively.…”

“…16,17 Romantic relationship dynamics have been assessed through avoidance and anxiety within the couples' relationship and romantic relationship quality, 18,19 where higher avoidance and anxiety and lower relationship quality have been observed among adults in WMPs and in bariatric surgery. 20,21 Family functioning is a commonly used assessment of the broader family environment, [22][23][24] where impaired family functioning is associated with higher rates of overweight/obesity in both youth and adults. [25][26][27][28] What has not yet been explored, in the context of weight management, are the associations between restrictive parent-child feeding practices and greater pressure to eat with impaired family functioning, and anxiety and avoidance in romantic relationships with impaired family functioning, and further that these associations may be more pronounced based on children's and partners' overweight/obesity status.…”

“…Overall, authoritative parenting and less restrictive parental feeding practices are associated with children's healthy food intake and healthy weight status . Romantic relationship dynamics have been assessed through avoidance and anxiety within the couples' relationship and romantic relationship quality, where higher avoidance and anxiety and lower relationship quality have been observed among adults in WMPs and in bariatric surgery . Family functioning is a commonly used assessment of the broader family environment, where impaired family functioning is associated with higher rates of overweight/obesity in both youth and adults .…”

Family members' experiences with adult participation in weight management programs: Triadic perspectives from patients, partners and children

“…FST has been proposed to guide paediatric weight management interventions, where family‐based treatment is the gold standard, and in couples‐based interventions in weight loss surgery . From a practical standpoint, interventions can be more cost‐ and time‐efficient if multiple family members can benefit from the participation of a single adult or parent, similar to parent‐only interventions in paediatric weight management .…”

“…FST has been proposed to guide paediatric weight management interventions, where family-based treatment is the gold standard, 29 and in couples-based interventions in weight loss surgery. 15,30,31 From a practical standpoint, interventions can be more cost-and timeefficient if multiple family members can benefit from the participation of a single adult or parent, similar to parent-only interventions in paediatric weight management. 32,33 In adults, Gorin and others 34 have investigated the support provided by partners on adult weight loss, 10,35 and have an on-going trial to intervene on the weight of couples.…”