‘Surgery is my only hope’: A qualitative study exploring perceptions of living with obesity and the prospect of having bariatric surgery

Summary The health benefits of bariatric surgery are well documented; however, the occurrence of weight‐regain after surgery, along with the development of mental health difficulties poses a question of how contemporary psychology could assist to prepare people living with obesity prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. This research explored individuals' (in the immediate pre‐operative and post‐operative population) attitudes, beliefs and experiences towards obesity and their journey to bariatric surgery. Seventeen adult participants (males n = 4; age range: 26–64 years) were recruited and participated in a semi‐structured interview. Twelve individuals participated prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. Five individuals participated in the early post‐operative period (