E Y Chen1, K C Fettich, M S McCloskey. 1. Adult Eating and Weight Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. chen@bsd.uchicago.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of severely obese bariatric-surgery-seeking individuals report a lifetime history of suicide attempts, a higher rate than in the general community. Being overweight is associated with weight-related stigma, making an individual more vulnerable to social isolation, a potential risk factor for suicidal ideation and/or behavior. AIMS: In this cross-sectional study of surgery-seeking adults with severe obesity, we examined whether weight-related stigma increases (1) the likelihood of suicidal ideation and/or behavior or (2) the degree of loneliness; and whether hypotheses (1) and (2) are supported (3) if loneliness mediates the effect of weight-related stigma on suicidal ideation and/or behavior. METHODS: Online questionnaires were administered to 301 women and 95 men seeking bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Approximately 30.3% reported having at least a passing thought of suicide, and 5.55% a suicide attempt during their lifetime. The suicide attempt rate appears lower than other bariatric surgery samples, but possibly higher than community and other surgery sample rates. For severely obese surgery-seeking women, weight-related stigma was associated with suicidal ideation and/or behavior, though this was not mediated by loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to model and compare suicidal ideation and/or behavior in bariatric-surgery-seeking individuals and control groups.
BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of severely obese bariatric-surgery-seeking individuals report a lifetime history of suicide attempts, a higher rate than in the general community. Being overweight is associated with weight-related stigma, making an individual more vulnerable to social isolation, a potential risk factor for suicidal ideation and/or behavior. AIMS: In this cross-sectional study of surgery-seeking adults with severe obesity, we examined whether weight-related stigma increases (1) the likelihood of suicidal ideation and/or behavior or (2) the degree of loneliness; and whether hypotheses (1) and (2) are supported (3) if loneliness mediates the effect of weight-related stigma on suicidal ideation and/or behavior. METHODS: Online questionnaires were administered to 301 women and 95 men seeking bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Approximately 30.3% reported having at least a passing thought of suicide, and 5.55% a suicide attempt during their lifetime. The suicide attempt rate appears lower than other bariatric surgery samples, but possibly higher than community and other surgery sample rates. For severely obese surgery-seeking women, weight-related stigma was associated with suicidal ideation and/or behavior, though this was not mediated by loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to model and compare suicidal ideation and/or behavior in bariatric-surgery-seeking individuals and control groups.
Authors: Michelle R Lent; Elizabeth Avakoff; Nicholas Hope; David S Festinger; Christopher D Still; Adam M Cook; Anthony T Petrick; Peter N Benotti; G Craig Wood Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2018-11 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Kathryn H Gordon; Wendy C King; Gretchen E White; Steven H Belle; Anita P Courcoulas; Faith E Ebel; Scott G Engel; Dave R Flum; Marcelo W Hinojosa; Alfons Pomp; Walter J Pories; Dino Spaniolas; Bruce M Wolfe; Susan Z Yanovski; James E Mitchell Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2018-12-06 Impact factor: 4.734
Authors: Jacob G Mabey; Ronette L Kolotkin; Ross D Crosby; Sheila E Crowell; Steven C Hunt; Lance E Davidson Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2020-08-31 Impact factor: 4.734