Bariatric Surgery, Employment, and Productivity Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
• Occupational Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Bariatric surgery is recognized for health benefits, but its impact on work productivity and employment needs systematic synthesis.
• Understanding occupational outcomes is crucial for the economic evaluation of bariatric surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze existing evidence on the occupational outcomes following bariatric surgery.
• To synthesize data on employment and productivity changes before and after surgery.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across 5 databases up to April 2024.
• Included 42 studies from 15 countries, comparing pre- and post-surgery occupational outcomes.
• Identified barriers and enablers to returning to work or improving productivity.

Main Results:

• Bariatric surgery showed short-term improvements in presenteeism, work hours, and employment rates.
• Long-term employment rates followed a reversed U-shape, returning to baseline around 5 years post-surgery.
• Barriers included insufficient weight loss, female sex, older age, comorbidities, and lower quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Bariatric surgery offers positive short-term occupational effects, but long-term sustainability is uncertain.
• Females and older adults may need specific post-surgery support to maintain employment and productivity.
• Long-term strategies and targeted interventions are essential for maximizing and sustaining occupational benefits.