Is there a difference in body size dissatisfaction between the patients with obesity seeking and not seeking treatment for obesity?

• Published in: BMC public health 2021-09, Vol.21 (1), p.1754-1754, Article 1754
• Main Authors: Gruszka, Wojciech, Owczarek, Aleksander J, Glinianowicz, Mateusz, Bąk-Sosnowska, Monika, Chudek, Jerzy, Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, Magdalena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Body Size; Body size satisfaction; Care and treatment; Clinics; Counseling; Diagnosis; Dietitians; Education; Female; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gender; Humans; Influence; Intervention; Male; Motivation for weight loss; Obesity; Obesity - therapy; Overweight; Patient outcomes; Patient Satisfaction; Patients; Perception of nutritional status; Personal Satisfaction; Physician and patient; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians; Professionals; Psychological aspects; Psychologists; Public health; Quality of life; Seeking treatment for obesity; Self image; Social aspects; Statistical analysis; Weight control; Weight loss
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11771-z

Various factors motivate people to undertake treatment for obesity. Among others they include health benefits, willingness to please others, and dissatisfaction with one's appearance. The present study aimed to assess body size dissatisfaction in patients with obesity seeking and not seeking treatment for obesity. Two-hundred-sixteen adult subjects (154 women, 62 men) including 80 people with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m starting treatment for obesity (BMI 35.7 ± 5.3 kg/m ) and 136 volunteers with obesity (BMI 34.7 ± 4.3 kg/m ) not seeking treatment for obesity, were enrolled. Body size satisfaction was assessed using the Figure Rating Scale adapted by Stunkard. Patients with obesity starting obesity treatment had more often a high level of body size dissatisfaction than volunteers with obesity not seeking the treatment (p