Stigma towards Bariatric Surgery: Prevalence and impact in the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom

Bariatric surgery is an increasingly used method to battle obesity and obesity related comorbidities. However, like obesity, bariatric surgery is highly stigmatized with patients being viewed as lazy, cheaters, and taking the easy way out. Negative attitudes toward bariatric surgery may discourage people with obesity from considering the surgery or impact the well-being and everyday life of patients post-surgery. Project aims This study explores the perceptions, experiences, and consequences of the stigma surrounding bariatric surgery from the perspective of people with obesity who are considering or awaiting surgery, post-bariatric surgery patients, the general public, and healthcare professionals. The study also explores to what extent bariatric surgery stigma is culture-dependent by comparing three European countries, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom. Despite these countries being geographically and socioeconomically close, their views towards and approaches to tackle obesity differ significantly. The objectives of the project are: 1. To determine the current knowledge on stigma toward bariatric surgery and its consequences from the perspective of patients of bariatric surgery and identify possible knowledge gaps 2. To explore the experiences and consequences of bariatric surgery stigma from the perspective of patients of bariatric surgery. 3. To determine the prevalence and nature of bariatric surgery stigma in the general public and among health care professionals 4. To assess the extent to which bariatric surgery stigma is culture dependent by comparing the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom.