Health-related quality of life after the surgical treatment of obesity.

The aim of the study is to answer the question: what is the range and character of changes within health-related quality of life (HRQL) in obese patients who have undergone surgical treatment (VBG - vertical banded gastroplasty or RYGBP - Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) in the period of three and six months after operation? Three groups of patients participated in the study: G I (n=33; BMI 49.90 +/- 6.74 kg/m(2)) - tested prior to the operation, G II (n=17; BMI 34.26 +/- 5.28 kg/m(2)) - tested six months after the operation, and G III (n=11) - examined prior to the operation (BMI 45.72 +/- 5.27 kg/m(2)) as well as three months after the operation (BMI 36.10 +/- 4.60 kg/m(2)). The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaire was used as an indicator of HRQL. Surgical treatment of obesity resulted in significant positive changes in relation to the basic dimensions of NHP: energy, pain, physical mobility and in the influence of the current health state on selected spheres of life: paid employment, jobs around the house, social life, sex life, interests and hobbies, holidays. Significant changes in HRQL resulting from bariatric surgery occur in a relatively short period of time and are related not only to physical but also to social functioning.