[Bariatric surgery in adults: variables that facilitate and hinder weight loss from pacients perspective]

Obesity has become a public health problem worldwide. Associated with this, bariatric surgeries have progressively increased, given its effectiveness in weight loss in the short term. However, it has been found a high percentage of weight reganancia from third year post surgery, and there are few follow-up studies of these patients.

To describe variables that promote and hinder weight loss, from the perspective of adults who have undergone bariatric surgery.

A qualitative descriptive approach based on Grounded Theory was used. In-depth interviews were conducted and data were analized using open coding. The sample consisted of 11 adults, 8 women and 3 males, who carried on surgery in private clinics.

Five categories of analysis were generated: (1) variables that promote weight loss after bariatric surgery (2) variables that hinder weight loss after surgery, (3) evaluation of bariatric surgery results, (4) problematization of obesity and, (5) relationship with food.

The main findings indicate that failure or success in weight loss after surgery is associated with the possibility of having a network of social and emotional support, as well as the ability to understand and modify the role of food as emotional regulation mechanism.