Marital changes after intestinal bypass surgery

J. R. Neill, J. R. Marshall and C. E. Yale

A retrospective interview study was undertaken of 14 spousal pairs in which one member had undergone the intestinal bypass procedure for massive obesity. Much unanticipated marital discord occurred. Sexual problems were particularly troublesome and affected both members in the spousal pairs. The results point to the role of massive obesity as a selective and stabilizing factor in the marriages of this subset of overweight persons.