SAT-115

Body Image Dissatisfaction and Distortion in Bariatric Patients

Erika Cesar de Oliveira Naliato; Martha Abreu Caribé de Araújo Pinho
Ricardo A T Castilho Center of Studies, Teresopolis Medical Association – Brazil
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Background: The prevalence of obesity has been increasing progressively worldwide. Bariatric surgery is considered one of the most important treatment modalities for class III Self-perceived image Ideal image
obesity. Obese individuals may present distortion of body image perception, as well as dissatisfaction with their body shapes. ✱✱✱
8

Stunkard 1-9 scale

Stunkard 1-9 scale
To assess body image perception in obese Brazilian patients, previous or subsequent to bariatric surgery, 65 subjects were evaluated using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (SFRS),
in this cross-sectional study.
9
6
6 4
SFRS figures are rated from 1 to 9, ranging from extreme
thinness (= 1) to extreme obesity (= 9). Patients selected the 3 2
figure they thought represented how they looked (Self-
perceived image) and indicated the one that corresponded to
0 0
their ideal body image (Ideal image).
Pre-op Post-op Pre-op Post-op

Forty-two patients were evaluated before gastroplasty and 23 in the post-operatory phase (10.8 ± 9.9 months after surgery). Data of patients from pre- vs. post-operatory

Stunkard (Self-perceived - ideal scores)

Stunkard (Self-percieved - BMI scores)

groups were compared.

Dissatisfaction with body image Self-image distortion

✱✱✱ ✱✱
8 5
Age Gender
✱ 4
80 50 6
Males 3
40 4
Age (years)

42

60 37 Females 2
30
n

40 2 1
20 23

20 0 0
10 Pre-op Post-op Pre-op Post-op
0 0
Pre-op Post-op Pre-op Post-op

Overestimation Underestimation
Time since surgery Excessive weight loss ✱
50 50
Time elapsed (months)

No overestimation No underestimation
40 150 40 42 40 42
Overestimation Underestimation
30 30

n
30

n
30
EWL (%)

100 20 23
20 23

20 10 10
15

5
50 0 0
10 Pre-op Post-op Pre-op Post-op

0 0
Post-op Post-op

BMI
Weight ✱✱✱
✱✱✱
200 60
weight (kg)

BMI (kg/m²)

150
❖ Dissatisfaction with body image was higher in the pre-op group, which is in accordance with the concept of negative body image and dissatisfaction being more
40
100 frequent in individuals with higher degrees of obesity.

❖ The post-op group had a higher prevalence of image overestimation, which suggests the reconstruction of self-image perception is not exclusively associated with
50 20 weight loss. The adaptation of the self-perceived body image to the newer/post-op body shape consists of a challenging transition process. In addition, these patients
may also present dissatisfaction with their image, when they compare themselves to an idealized (culturally and socially established) standard of beauty.
0 0 ❖ We concluded that image dissatisfaction is highly prevalent in Brazilian bariatric patients and persists after surgery. Self-perception of corporal and psychological
Pre-op Post-op Pre-op Post-op modifications that take place after surgery could explain the higher prevalence of body image distortion in the post-operatory.