Patients with Extreme Obesity: Change in Mental Symptoms Three Years after Gastric Banding

Abstract

Objective: Extreme obesity causes grave psychosocial and psychopathological problems in addition to somatic morbidity. One possible treatment is gastric banding, a surgical reduction of stomach volume. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gastric banding leads to lasting change in: 1) the Body Mass Index (BMI); 2) social factors such as work and partnerships, eating behavior, anxiety and depression symptoms; and 3) health related quality of life. Method: We surveyed a sample of 50 adipose women (BMI > 40 kg/m2). Primary outcome measures were self-reported changes on the scales of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D), and the Health Survey (SF-36). Results: In comparison with the control group, we observed significant changes in BMI ( p < 0.01) and the existence of a partnership ( p < 0.01), on all three scales of the TFEQ ( p < 0.01), on both scales of the HADS-D (anxiety: p < 0.05; depression: p < 0.01), and on all scales of the SF-36 Health Survey ( p between < 0.05 and < 0.01 in every case). The most marked changes in all the qualities investigated occurred within the first 12 months of surgery. Conclusions: Three years after gastric banding, positive changes in BMI reduction, partnership, eating behavior, anxiety, depressive symptomatology, and health related quality of life could be observed. There was also a significant correlation between BMI reduction and reduction firstly on the depression scale (HADS-D) and secondly on the SF-36 scales for physical functioning (PHFU), role physical (ROPH), mental health (PSYC), and vitality (VITA).