Body image after sleeve gastrectomy: reduced dissatisfaction and increased dynamics.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with severe obesity commonly report poor body image. Improvement in body image has been found after conservative weight reduction programs as well as after bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion, or gastric banding). However, no studies investigating body image after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are available.


METHODS
Of 70 consecutive patients who planned to undergo LSG at a comprehensive obesity center, 62 patients were included in the study and evaluated before surgery. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 51.3 kg/m(2) and the patients' mean age before surgery was 43.8 years. One-year follow-up data were obtained for 51 patients (82.3 %). Body image was assessed using the body image questionnaire (BIQ-20), and depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).


RESULTS
Patients reported poor body image before surgery. One year after LSG, negative evaluations of the body and perceptions of body dynamics and vitality had markedly improved, without reaching healthy levels. No correlations between body image and weight-related parameters (BMI, percentage of excess weight loss) or mood after 1 year were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Body image improves after LSG. This improvement might reflect changes to patients' attitudes, beliefs, and thoughts rather than real weight lost. Further studies should investigate the factors that mediate improvement of body image after bariatric surgery.
Department of Internal Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstrasse 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. martin.teufel@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Martin
M
Teufel
Nicole
N
Rieber
Tobias
T
Meile
Katrin Elisabeth
KE
Giel
Helene
H
Sauer
Katharina
K
Hünnemeyer
Paul
P
Enck
Stephan
S
Zipfel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D055815:Young Adult