Abstract

SILVA, Isabel; PAIS-RIBEIRO, José  and  CARDOSO, Helena. Psychological status, eating behaviour, quality of life of portuguese obesity surgery candidates. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2014, vol.15, n.3, pp.707-722. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/14psd150312.

The present study aimed to describe psychological status, and eating behaviour characteristics, as well as quality of life of obesity surgery candidates in a public Portuguese hospital. A cohort of 198 obesity surgery candidates, with a body mass index ranging between 35.47 and 80.65 (M=48.76; SD=8.40) was studied. Patients answered to a semi-structured interview, to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Concept Clinical Inventory, and to MOS SF-36. Results show that a high percentage of patients present yo-yo phenomenon and report important consequences in psychological, social, familial, work, spare time and motor domains. Binge eating disorder, sweet/fat compulsion, continuous nibbling, eating rapidly, eating without feeling hungry, eating until feeling indisposed, the perception of not having control over what is eaten and feeling upset after eating an excessive amount of food are relatively frequent behaviours. Patients commonly present anxiety disorders and major depression (including suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts), diminished self-concept and poor quality of life.The present study shows that obesity is significantly associated to impaired psychological functioning in obesity surgery candidates, suggesting that it is crucial to consider this association in pre surgical psychological assessment and intervention in order to contribute to more positive surgery outcomes.

Keywords : Obesity; anxiety; depression; self-concept; eating behaviour; quality of life.

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