Researchers talked to 20 Turkish women who had weight loss surgery but then gained back at least 10% of the weight they lost. The women shared their experiences about eating, emotions, and how their culture and social life affected their weight after surgery. The study found that weight regain isn’t just about the surgery itself—it’s also about emotional eating, lack of support from doctors and counselors, and pressure from family and culture. The researchers say that successful long-term weight management after surgery needs more than just the operation; it requires ongoing help with eating habits, emotional support, and advice that respects each person’s cultural background.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Why women who have weight loss surgery sometimes gain weight back, and what their experiences tell us about the emotional, social, and cultural reasons behind weight regain
  • Who participated: 20 women from Turkey who had metabolic bariatric surgery (a type of weight loss surgery) and gained back at least 10% of the weight they had lost after their operation
  • Key finding: Women experienced weight regain not just because of eating habits, but because of emotional eating, lack of ongoing support from healthcare providers, cultural and family pressures, and changes in how their bodies handled food after surgery
  • What it means for you: If you’re considering weight loss surgery or have had it, understand that success requires more than just the surgery itself. You’ll likely need ongoing counseling, emotional support, and help managing eating habits—especially if cultural or family pressures affect your food choices. Talk to your doctor about getting comprehensive support after surgery.

The Research Details

This study used a research method called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), which is a way to deeply understand people’s personal experiences. Researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 20 Turkish women who had weight loss surgery and then regained weight. The women answered open-ended questions about their eating experiences, emotions, and life after surgery. The researchers recorded and wrote out all the interviews, then carefully read through them to find common themes and patterns in what the women shared.

This approach is different from studies that just measure numbers like pounds lost or gained. Instead, it focuses on understanding the ‘why’ behind people’s behaviors and experiences. The researchers were interested in learning about the emotional, social, and cultural factors that influenced the women’s eating and weight after surgery, not just the physical changes.

Most research on weight loss surgery focuses on how much weight people lose and medical complications. This study is important because it explores the human side of the story—what people actually experience emotionally and socially after surgery. By talking directly to women from a specific cultural background (Turkish women), the researchers learned that weight regain isn’t just a personal failure or a medical problem; it’s connected to emotions, family expectations, and cultural food traditions. This helps doctors and counselors understand that they need to provide more complete support.

This study has both strengths and limitations. The strength is that it provides rich, detailed information directly from people’s experiences, which helps us understand the ‘why’ behind weight regain. The limitation is that it only included 20 women from one cultural group in one location, so the findings may not apply to everyone. The study also relied on what people remembered and chose to share in interviews, which can be influenced by their current feelings and memories. This type of study is best used alongside other research to build a complete picture.

What the Results Show

The study identified five main themes that explained the women’s experiences after weight loss surgery. First, women reported major changes in their relationship with food—some foods they used to enjoy now made them feel sick, while they developed new cravings. Second, their eating habits changed significantly, but many struggled with returning to old eating patterns, especially eating too quickly or eating when stressed. Third, their bodies handled food differently after surgery, causing discomfort with certain foods. Fourth, emotions played a huge role: women ate when they felt sad, stressed, or bored, and they felt shame and disappointment when they gained weight back. Fifth, social and environmental factors mattered greatly—family gatherings centered on food, cultural traditions around eating, and lack of support from doctors and counselors all contributed to weight regain.

The women described feeling caught between two worlds: they were happy about their initial weight loss and improved health, but distressed when old eating behaviors returned. Many mentioned that they didn’t receive enough ongoing support from healthcare providers after their surgery. They also felt pressure from family members who didn’t understand why they couldn’t eat normally again, and cultural food traditions made it hard to stick to new eating patterns.

The study revealed that emotional eating was a major issue for these women. Many used food to cope with stress, sadness, and boredom—the same pattern they had before surgery. The women also reported that their doctors and counselors didn’t provide enough long-term support for managing emotions and eating behaviors. Additionally, cultural and family factors were significant: food was central to family gatherings and celebrations, and some family members didn’t support the women’s dietary changes. The women also experienced shame and self-blame when they gained weight back, which made them less likely to seek help.

Previous research has shown that weight regain after weight loss surgery is common, with many people regaining 25-50% of the weight they lost within 5-10 years. This study adds important context by showing that weight regain isn’t just a medical or behavioral problem—it’s deeply connected to emotions, culture, and social support. While other studies have focused on physical complications or the amount of weight regained, this research highlights that people need emotional and psychological support, not just surgery. The findings support what some earlier research suggested: that successful weight management after surgery requires ongoing counseling and support, not just the operation itself.

This study has several important limitations to consider. First, it only included 20 women from Turkey, so the findings may not apply to men, other cultures, or different countries. Second, the women were recruited from a private wellness center, which means they may have had more access to healthcare than other people. Third, the study relied on women remembering and sharing their experiences, which can be influenced by current emotions and selective memory. Fourth, the study didn’t include women who successfully maintained their weight loss after surgery, so we don’t know what factors help some people succeed. Finally, this type of study can’t prove cause-and-effect relationships—it can only show what factors seem to be connected to weight regain.

The Bottom Line

If you’re considering weight loss surgery or have had it: (1) Plan for ongoing emotional and psychological support, not just the surgery itself—this is strongly supported by this research. (2) Work with a counselor or therapist who understands emotional eating and can help you develop healthy coping strategies. (3) Ask your healthcare team about dietary counseling that respects your cultural food traditions and family expectations. (4) Be honest with your doctor about struggles with eating, emotions, and weight changes so you can get appropriate help. (5) Consider joining a support group with others who have had similar surgery. These recommendations have moderate to strong support from this research, though more studies are needed to confirm the best approaches.

This research is most relevant for: women considering weight loss surgery or who have had it; family members of people who have had weight loss surgery; doctors, surgeons, and counselors who work with bariatric surgery patients; and people from cultural backgrounds where food traditions are central to family and social life. The findings may be especially relevant for people from Turkish or similar cultural backgrounds, though the general themes about emotional eating and need for support likely apply more broadly. People who have not had weight loss surgery but struggle with emotional eating may also find the insights helpful.

Weight regain typically happens gradually over months to years after weight loss surgery, not immediately. The women in this study had regained at least 10% of their weight, which suggests this process took several months to years. If you have weight loss surgery, expect that maintaining your weight loss will require ongoing effort, support, and lifestyle changes for the long term—not just in the first few months after surgery. Benefits of getting proper emotional and psychological support may appear within weeks to months as you develop better coping strategies, but preventing weight regain is a long-term process that requires sustained effort and support.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track both eating patterns and emotional triggers daily. Record: (1) what you ate and when, (2) your hunger level before eating (physical vs. emotional hunger), (3) your mood or emotion before eating, and (4) how you felt after eating. This helps identify patterns between emotions and eating, which is key to preventing weight regain.
  • Use the app to set up daily check-ins where you identify one emotion you’re feeling and one healthy way to cope with it that doesn’t involve food (like taking a walk, calling a friend, or doing a hobby). When you feel the urge to eat emotionally, use the app to remind yourself of these alternatives and track which ones actually help you feel better.
  • Set up weekly reviews in the app to look at patterns: Which emotions most often trigger eating? Which coping strategies work best for you? Are there specific times of day or social situations that make emotional eating more likely? Use these insights to adjust your strategies and share them with your counselor or support group. Also track your weight weekly (not daily) and your overall wellbeing, recognizing that weight fluctuates and that emotional health is just as important as the number on the scale.

This research describes the experiences of 20 Turkish women and should not be considered medical advice. Weight loss surgery is a serious medical procedure with both benefits and risks that vary by individual. If you are considering weight loss surgery, have had weight loss surgery, or are struggling with weight management or emotional eating, please consult with your doctor, surgeon, or a qualified mental health professional. This study suggests that ongoing psychological support and counseling are important after weight loss surgery, but individual needs vary. Always work with your healthcare team to develop a plan that’s right for your specific situation, health history, and cultural background.