title: Alexithymia and weight loss in obese patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a multifactorial disease characterized by genetic, social, cultural and psychological factors. Currently, bariatric surgery represents the gold-standard intervention to treat morbid obesity in order to counteract associated disabling comorbidities. Several studies showed correlation between post-surgery weight loss and psychological factors. Also, the alexithymia may have a role in affecting post-surgery outcomes in bariatric patients, even if there are no studies investigating its role at 12-month follow-up. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between alexithymia and the postoperative weight loss 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were enrolled. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was administered to patients. A postoperative weight loss check was performed at 3 and then 12 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAS-20 total score was negatively correlated with the percent of excess weight loss (%EWL) at the 12-month follow-up (r = -0.24; p = 0.040). The analysis showed that non-alexithymic patients had a greater weight loss at 12 months after surgery compared to both probably alexithymics (71.88 ± 18.21 vs. 60.7 ± 12.5; p = 0.047) and probably alexithymic patients (71.88 ± 18.21 vs. 56 ± 22.8; p = 0.007). The preoperative BMI was a significant covariate [F(1,70) = 6.13 (p = 0.016)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the patients with higher preoperative BMI and identified as alexithymic showed lower %EWL at 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Findings point out the importance to take into consideration possible psychological treatments focused on improving emotional regulations of patients who are seeking bariatric surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Polo Pontino, Bariatric Center of Excellence IFSO-EU, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paone
authors.affiliation: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.affiliation: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damico
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, A. Gemelli University Hospital Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Ospedale San Giovanni Decollato, Andosilla, Civita Castellana, VT, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio Cesare
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Campanile
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Polo Pontino, Bariatric Center of Excellence IFSO-EU, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. carlo.lai@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7638-0375
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alexithymia; Bariatric surgery; Obesity; Post-surgery outcomes