Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Bariatric Surgery

Authors

Leah Hecht, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Bethany Pester, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jordan M. Braciszewski, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Amy E. Graham, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Kara Mayer, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Kellie Martens, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Aaron Hamann, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Arthur M. Carlin, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Lisa R. Miller-Matero, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Hecht LM, Pester B, Braciszewski JM, Graham AE, Mayer K, Martens K, Hamann A, Carlin AM, and Miller-Matero LR. Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Bariatric Surgery. Obes Surg 2020.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-11-2020

Publication Title

Obesity surgery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations among race and socioeconomic factors (receiving social security disability, insurance type, and income) with undergoing bariatric surgery and weight loss outcomes in a racially diverse, urban cohort of bariatric surgery candidates (N = 314). Patients with private insurance and who identified as Caucasian were more likely to undergo bariatric surgery. Income significantly predicted percentage of excess weight loss 1 year after surgery, although this was no longer significant when accounting for race. Race and socioeconomic factors should be considered during psychosocial evaluations to support patients at risk of surgical attrition and poorer weight loss outcomes. Future research should explore policy solutions to improve access, while qualitative work may help with understanding racial disparities in bariatric surgery.

PubMed ID

31927686

ePublication

ePub ahead of print