John B Dixon1, Maureen E Dixon, Paul E O'Brien. 1. Monash University, Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne 3181, Victoria, Australia. john.dixon@med.monash.edu.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The severely obese experience discrimination and embarrassment regarding their appearance, causing psychosocial distress. We assessed the importance of appearance, presentation and self-evaluation of appearance before and after weight loss, in severely obese subjects (BMI > 35 kg/m2). METHODS: Appearance orientation (AO) and appearance evaluation (AE) sections of the Multi-dimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire were completed by preoperative patients and those attending an annual follow-up after Lap-Band gastric restrictive surgery over a 2-year period. AO is a measure of the importance one places in appearance. AE is a self-evaluation of one's appearance. RESULTS: Before surgery 322 consecutive patients (48 men and 274 women) completed the survey. AO was similar to that of community norms (mean scores 3.76 +/- SD 0.6 vs 3.84 +/- 0.6), with the exception of the super obese (BMI > 50 kg/m2) who placed significantly less importance on their appearance (3.34, +/- 0.8, p = 0.001). There was no change in AO at 1-4 years after surgery, with the exception of the super obese whose mean values rose to normal by 1 year. AE was very low before surgery compared with community normal values (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs 3.4 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001). Major improvement in mean AE was seen at 1 year after surgery (n = 209, 2.6 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001) and the improvement was maintained out to 4 years. The change in AE from pre-surgery to 1 year (n = 122 paired) correlated positively with the percentage of excess weight lost (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and positively with measures of quality of life and psychological disturbance. CONCLUSION: Major improvements in appearance evaluation occur with weight loss after surgery and this is associated with psychological benefit.
BACKGROUND: The severely obese experience discrimination and embarrassment regarding their appearance, causing psychosocial distress. We assessed the importance of appearance, presentation and self-evaluation of appearance before and after weight loss, in severely obese subjects (BMI > 35 kg/m2). METHODS: Appearance orientation (AO) and appearance evaluation (AE) sections of the Multi-dimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire were completed by preoperative patients and those attending an annual follow-up after Lap-Band gastric restrictive surgery over a 2-year period. AO is a measure of the importance one places in appearance. AE is a self-evaluation of one's appearance. RESULTS: Before surgery 322 consecutive patients (48 men and 274 women) completed the survey. AO was similar to that of community norms (mean scores 3.76 +/- SD 0.6 vs 3.84 +/- 0.6), with the exception of the super obese (BMI > 50 kg/m2) who placed significantly less importance on their appearance (3.34, +/- 0.8, p = 0.001). There was no change in AO at 1-4 years after surgery, with the exception of the super obese whose mean values rose to normal by 1 year. AE was very low before surgery compared with community normal values (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs 3.4 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001). Major improvement in mean AE was seen at 1 year after surgery (n = 209, 2.6 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001) and the improvement was maintained out to 4 years. The change in AE from pre-surgery to 1 year (n = 122 paired) correlated positively with the percentage of excess weight lost (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and positively with measures of quality of life and psychological disturbance. CONCLUSION: Major improvements in appearance evaluation occur with weight loss after surgery and this is associated with psychological benefit.
Authors: Marjolein M Geerts; Elske M van den Berg; Laura van Riel; Jaap Peen; Anna E Goudriaan; Jack J M Dekker Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2020-05-29 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Daniel J Munoz; Mona Lal; Eunice Y Chen; Mayce Mansour; Sarah Fischer; Megan Roehrig; Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen; Maureen Dymek-Valenitine; John Alverdy; Daniel le Grange Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 4.129