This study aimed to explore how women leveraged online peer support to discuss their experiences and seek information related to bariatric surgery. Specifically, it sought to determine whether women are adequately prepared for the unique challenges associated with bariatric surgery and identify potential areas for improving preoperative education and support. An online search identified the Bariatric Pal online forum and sub-forum The Gals Room, of which 289 posts were selected and analysed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Five categories were developed: Connection with Forum Community; Life After Bariatric Surgery; Physical Symptoms and Experiences; Healthcare Concerns and Experiences; and Psychological Experiences. The findings highlight gaps in preoperative education for women, particularly regarding reproductive health and emphasise the value of online peer support in coping with and managing chronic health conditions. Further research is needed to inform improvements in preoperative and postoperative support for individuals undergoing bariatric surgery.

Keywords: education; health care; obesity; social network; social support; surgery; weight loss; women’s health.

这项研究旨在探索女性如何利用在线同伴支持讨论与肥胖症手术相关的经验和寻求相关信息。具体来说，它试图确定女性是否充分准备应对肥胖症手术的特定挑战，并识别改善术前教育和支持的潜在领域。通过在线搜索，发现了Bariatric Pal论坛及其子论坛The Gals Room，从中选择了289个帖子并使用传统定性内容分析方法进行分析。研究开发了五个类别：与论坛社区的联系；肥胖症手术后的生命；身体症状和体验；医疗关注和经历；以及心理体验。结果强调了女性术前教育中的缺口，特别是在生殖健康方面，并突出了在线同伴支持在应对和管理慢性疾病方面的价值。需要进一步的研究来改善接受肥胖症手术的人的术前和术后支持。

关键词：教育；医疗服务；肥胖；社交网络；社会支持；手术；减肥；女性健康。