Perceptions of Obesity and Bariatric Surgery Among Newly Qualified Doctors: A UK-based Multi-Hospital Survey Study

Obesity is a major public health challenge, yet formal education on bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) remains limited in undergraduate and early postgraduate medical training. Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors are often responsible for managing post-operative bariatric patients, but their confidence and preparedness in this area are unclear. This study aimed to assess FY1 doctors' confidence, knowledge, and perceptions of BMS, identifying educational gaps to guide future training.

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to FY1 doctors across seven hospitals in South-East London (August- December 2024). The questionnaire assessed demographics, confidence in managing BMS patients, prior training knowledge, and perceptions of obesity and BMS.

Seventy-seven FY1 doctors participated. The majority (77.9%, n=60) had no formal BMS training, and fewer than half (42.9%, n=33) had clinical exposure to BMS patients. Only 20.8% (n=16) felt comfortable managing these patients, with confidence levels higher among those with prior clinical exposure but without statistical significance (p = 0.0682). Misconceptions were present, with 41.6% (n=32) believing obesity is self-inflicted and 7.8% (n=6) viewing BMS as cosmetic. A majority (84.4%, n=65) supported integrating BMS education into medical training.

FY1 doctors demonstrated low confidence in managing bariatric patients, possibly due to limited training and exposure. Findings highlight the need for structured BMS education, focusing on peri-operative care rather than procedural details, to better equip future doctors in managing obesity and post-bariatric surgery patients.