Body image after sleeve gastrectomy: reduced dissatisfaction and increased dynamics

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Obesity Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Severe obesity is frequently associated with poor body image.
• Previous bariatric surgeries like gastric bypass and gastric banding have shown improvements in body image.
• No prior research has investigated body image changes following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in body image among patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).
• To assess the impact of LSG on body image perception one year after the procedure.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 62 patients with severe obesity (mean BMI 51.3 kg/m²) undergoing LSG were assessed pre-surgery.
• Body image was measured using the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ-20) and depression via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
• One-year follow-up data were collected from 51 patients (82.3%).

Main Results:

• Patients reported poor body image prior to LSG.
• One year after LSG, significant improvements in body image, including body evaluation, dynamics, and vitality, were observed.
• No significant correlations were found between body image improvements and weight-related parameters (BMI, excess weight loss) or mood at the one-year mark.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) leads to a notable improvement in body image for individuals with severe obesity.
• The enhancement in body image may stem from psychological shifts in attitudes and beliefs rather than solely from weight reduction.
• Further research is recommended to identify the specific factors that mediate body image improvement after bariatric surgery.