Background: Body image is a multifaceted construct commonly associated with obesity. This study examined changes in body dissatisfaction, and shape and weight concerns in bariatric surgery patients from baseline to 6 and 12 months post-surgery.
Methods: 109 extremely obese patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery completed the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and the Shape and Weight Concern subscales of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) at baseline, and 6 and 12 months post-surgery.
Results: Patients experienced substantial weight loss and reported statistically significant reductions in BSQ, and Shape and Weight Concern scores from baseline to 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Improvements on the BSQ and Shape Concern scale were maintained between 6 and 12 months post-surgery, while patients reported continued reductions in weight and Weight Concern scale scores. Moreover, at 6 and 12 months follow-up, over 80% of female patients had body image scores comparable to published norms. Correlations between change in BMI and the body image measures were variable, and degree of weight loss did not predict body image scores 6 or 12 months post-surgery.
Conclusions: Results from the present study illustrate significant and immediate post-surgical reductions in body dissatisfaction and concerns, along with weight loss in bariatric patients. Such improvements indicate a normalization of body image-related concerns in these patients, the majority of who remain overweight or obese despite the substantial post-surgical weight losses. Changes in weight and body image relate poorly to each other, suggesting that mediating factors may be involved.