Recruitment procedures

A broad and pragmatic recruitment strategy has been proposed for this study.

Posters advising of the study will be displayed in patient areas of LUH.

Obesity UK, a UK charity that supports people living with obesity who may have had or be considering bariatric surgery, will advertise the study to their members online using the same posters.

A team member will review the database of patients referred for bariatric surgery by LUH within the previous 5 years. Patients will receive an information letter with a participant information sheet enclosed advising them to contact the principal investigator (PI) if they would like to know more information or to discuss taking part.

Patients who have previously contacted the PI to express their interest in PA research will be advised of the study via email with the participant information sheet attached.

The PI (first author) will attend online support groups attended by people who have undergone bariatric surgery.

All potential participants who contact the PI regarding this study will be provided with a participant information sheet and be given the time to consider this information and ask questions prior to providing informed consent, taken by the PI. At each visit participants will be asked to reconfirm their consent. If participants are unwilling or unable to provide their consent they will be withdrawn from the study.