Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42302855›Full record

SynthesisObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026

Experienced Weight Stigma Changes Following Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hannah R Farnsworth, Dakota L Leget, Lara J LaCaille, Rick A LaCaille, Afton M Koball, Alicia Niemann, Chloë Z Backderf, Carly R Mastrian, Ellie M Von Duyke

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hannah R FarnsworthDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2327-6373
Dakota L LegetDepartment of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2538-6566
Lara J LaCailleDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3503-3171
Rick A LaCailleDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1783-3845
Afton M KoballDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9145-3061
Alicia NiemannDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
Chloë Z BackderfDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
Carly R MastrianDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
Ellie M Von DuykeDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1704-8142

Funding

NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001427
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExperiencing weight stigmatization is linked to maladaptive eating, poorer mental health, and increased risk of weight gain, potentially impacting metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize patient experiences of weight stigmatization before and after MBS and to examine the association of presurgical weight stigma on postsurgical weight loss.

methodsThis preregistered study followed PRISMA guidelines. Six databases were searched through March 2025; eligible studies included published articles and dissertations/theses available in English that quantitatively measured presurgical weight stigma among MBS samples and included relevant outcomes. Meta-analyses utilized random effects models with change scores converted to Hedge's g and associations between presurgical experienced weight stigma and post-MBS weight change converted to coefficient r.

resultsForty-one studies were included, with 36 reporting on experienced weight stigma change pre- to post-MBS and 10 studies reporting on the relationship between pre-MBS experienced weight stigma and post-MBS weight loss.

conclusionsResults revealed weight stigmatization decreased substantially after MBS (6-12 months, g = 1.28; 13-24 months, g = 1.16; 25-36 months, g = 1.26). Presurgical weight stigma was not associated with weight loss post-surgery (r = 0.05). Findings are limited by minimal studies reporting on longer term relationships between baseline stigma, post-MBS weight loss, and additional health outcomes.

Indexed as

Bariatric SurgeryObesitySocial StigmaHumansWeight Lossmeta‐analysismetabolic bariatric surgeryweight biasweight lossweight stigma

Identifiers

PMID42302855
PMCPMC13460558

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.