Preventing Weight Regain: What’s the Importance of Body Image Change after Bariatric Surgery?

Abstract

Introduction: Obese patients have a high degree of body dissatisfaction and uneasiness inducing feelings of low self-esteem, sadness and loneliness leading to the development of pathological social withdrawal. Change of body image dimension is considered a factor for weight maintenance. The aim of this study is to show that, after bariatric surgery at weight loss, body image partially changes which could be considered one of the reasons for long term weight regain after bariatric surgery. Method: 40 patients: mean age 38 SD ± 10,71; 28 women, 12 men; mean body mass index (BMI) 48 SD ± 8,31, suffering from severe obesity, were enrolled in this study. All participants were evaluated before and after bariatric surgery. The assessment at weight loss after bariatric surgery (t 1) was performed using BUT test. The statistical data analysis was performed with the t-Student method (p<0.05). Results: Results after bariatric surgery were: sufficient ability to cope with the nutritional program for bariatric surgery; change in eating behavior; fulfilled perception of satiety and reduction in food intake impulse; improvement of body image in its cognitive and behavioral components, but not in the emotional one. Conclusion: Weight loss is insufficient to determine a change in the emotional component of body image. It does not interfere with the emotional regulation system or with the ability to use non-verbal communication. Improving ability to perceive one's new body and the knowledge of how to use it in relationship with others is necessary to prevent risk of weight regain after bariatric surgery.