A human-centered design approach to empowering obesity patients in self-supervised rehabilitation post-bariatric surgery

Obesity, a prevalent and escalating global health concern, necessitates effective and sustainable rehabilitation strategies, particularly for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The recovery journey for these individuals is complex, often spanning years and requiring significant lifestyle modifications, especially in diet management. Traditional rehabilitation models frequently fall short in providing the continuous, personalized, and accessible support crucial for long-term adherence, leading to suboptimal outcomes, high rates of patient disengagement, and increased healthcare burdens. Key challenges faced by patients include persistent pain and mobility issues, difficulties adhering to strict dietary guidelines, psychological struggles such as emotional eating and body image concerns, and limited access to ongoing professional support. Simultaneously, healthcare providers struggle with effectively monitoring remote progress, delivering truly personalized care, addressing emotional barriers, and coordinating interdisciplinary efforts. This thesis investigates the pivotal question: How might we help obesity patients aged 20-70 in the U.S. promote and actively engage in self-supervised home-based rehabilitation for diet management during their postoperative journey, through the lens of Human-centered Design? Recognizing the multifaceted nature of this challenge, this research proposes that Human-centered Design (HCD) offers a powerful framework for developing solutions that are not only effective and efficient but also deeply empathetic to user needs, thereby fostering sustained engagement. The study employs the framework based on Human-Centered Design in use in healthcare contexts. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, commencing with secondary research on recent innovations in this area, market analysis and a literature review to synthesize current knowledge in the landscape of self-supervised home-based rehabilitation post-surgery, and the intricacies of obesity, bariatrics, and diet management. This is followed by primary research, including data collections through informational interviews and surveys to validate critical pain points, and to uncover lived experiences, challenges, and preferences of stakeholders. The insights gathered from both literature and primary data inform the development of a conceptual framework for designing digital solutions. The findings from this research lead to actionable recommendations for designing an innovative, digital, self-supervised home-based rehabilitation tool that empowers obesity patients in their diet management. By focusing on user needs, integrating technological insights, and leveraging interdisciplinary perspectives, this thesis seeks to contribute to the development of more usable, engaging, and ultimately successful rehabilitation experiences, leading to improved long-term health outcomes and a higher quality of life for postoperative obesity patients. Building upon these insights, this thesis culminates in the conceptualization and design of a digital product aimed at addressing the identified needs and pain points. This proposed solution, grounded firmly in Human-centered Design principles, is articulated through detailed mockups, culminating in a functional prototype. The efficacy and usability of this prototype is then assessed through user testing with representatives from the target patient population. The outcomes of this testing, including qualitative feedback on user experience, inform the final design recommendations, underscoring the practical implications of this research for developing patient-centric self-supervised rehabilitation tools.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.F.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Art and Design

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Attarian, Roya

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dearborn, Lynne Marie
• Heaton, Rachel Flood
• Salamanca, Juan

• Human-centered Design (HCD) - Self-supervised Rehabilitation - Home-based Rehabilitation - Diet Management - Bariatrics - Bariatric Surgery - Bariatric Patient - Obesity Patient - Overweight - Weight Loss - Obesity - Postoperative Period/Journey.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Roya Attarian

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132618

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132618