Family factors that characterize adolescents with severe obesity and their role in weight loss surgery outcomes.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively assess family characteristics of adolescents with severe obesity and whether family factors impact weight loss outcomes following weight loss surgery (WLS). METHODS: Multisite prospective data from 138 adolescents undergoing WLS and primary caregivers (adolescent Mage = 16.9; MBMI = 51.5 kg/m2 ; caregiver Mage = 44.5; 93% female) and 83 nonsurgical comparators (NSComp adolescent Mage = 16.1; MBMI = 46.9 kg/m2 ; caregiver Mage = 43.9; 94% female) were collected using standardized measures at presurgery/baseline and at 1 and 2 years. RESULTS: The majority (77.3%) of caregivers had obesity, with rates of caregiver WLS significantly higher in the WLS (23.8%) versus NSComp group (3.7%, P < 0.001). Family dysfunction was prevalent (≈1 in every two to three families), with rates higher for NSComp than the WLS group. For the WLS group, preoperative family factors (i.e., caregiver BMI or WLS history, dysfunction, social support) were not significant predictors of adolescent weight loss at 1 and 2 years postoperatively, although change in family functioning over time emerged as a significant correlate of percent weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of severe obesity in caregivers as well as family dysfunction were clinically noteworthy, although not related to adolescent weight loss success following WLS. However, change in family communication and emotional climate over time emerged as potential targets to optimize weight loss outcomes.