Psychological condition and quality of life in patients with morbid obesity before and after surgical weight loss

• Published in: Obesity surgery 2005-09, Vol.15 (8), p.1177-1184
• Main Authors: Mamplekou, E, Komesidou, V, Bissias, Ch, Papakonstantinou, A, Melissas, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gastroplasty; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - etiology; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - complications; Obesity, Morbid - psychology; Obesity, Morbid - surgery; Personal relationships; Quality of Life; Weight Loss; Women
• ISSN: 0960-8923; 1708-0428
• DOI: 10.1381/0960892055002356

Bariatric surgery results in significant weight loss, improvement or cure of accompanying illnesses, and may lead to important changes in psychological conditions. The aim of this paper is to study the changes in the psychological and emotional lives of patients as well as quality of life during the first 2 years after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). The study population comprised 59 patients, 45 women (76.3%) and 14 men, between 18 and 64 years old. Patients were asked to complete an SCL-90R questionnaire before VBG. 2 years after VBG, patients were again asked to complete an SCL-90R as well as a BAROS questionnaire. Comparisons were made between loss of weight, alteration in the psychological condition and quality of life postoperatively, within the parameters of sex, age, marital status, level of education, duration of obesity and family history of obesity. Women had a greater degree of depression from obesity than their male counterparts before the procedure (P=0.001), while their postoperative emotional improvement was more marked (P=0.008). The General Mental Health Index was higher in female than male patients (P=0.008). At 2 years after VBG, BMI was significantly reduced (P