Body Esteem Improves After Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Body esteem is an issue for the morbidly obese. Although the primary goal of bariatric surgery is to improve, cure, and prevent medical comorbidities, the psychological aspect of bariatric surgery is just as important. Few studies have investigated the body esteem of patients after laparoscopic gastric bypass. This investigation tested the hypothesis that body esteem improves after bariatric surgery. Preoperative and postoperative patients were asked to fill out an institutional review board—exempted survey that included the Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA). The subscales include Appearance, Weight, and Attribution. Postoperative patients were told to fill the BESAA as they felt currently and as they felt before surgery. They felt that they had better scores currently than before surgery. Preoperative patients had worse scores than postoperative patients. As in many medical issues, body esteem improves after bariatric surgery. When discussing its benefits, psychological aspects of body esteem should be touted as well.