The influence of preoperative psychological factors on weight loss after bariatric surgery: A preliminary report

• Published in: Journal of health psychology Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 518 - 525
• Main Authors: Lai, Carlo, Aceto, Paola, Petrucci, Ilaria, Castelnuovo, Gianluca, Callari, Cosimo, Giustacchini, Piero, Sollazzi, Liliana, Mingrone, Geltrude, Bellantone, Rocco, Raffaelli, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2019; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Affective Symptoms - psychology; Alexithymia; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Bariatric Surgery; Body weight; Depression - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastric restriction surgery; Gastrointestinal surgery; Humans; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Obesity, Morbid - psychology; Obesity, Morbid - surgery; Perioperative care; Psychological aspects; Treatment Outcome; Weight Loss; weight loss; anxiety; alexithymia; bariatric surgery; depression; obesity
• ISSN: 1359-1053; 1461-7277
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105316677750

Aim of this study was to investigate relationship between preoperative psychological factors and % total weight loss after gastric bypass. 76 adult patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were preoperatively asked to complete anxiety and depression Hamilton scales and Toronto Alexithymia Scale. At 3- and 6-month follow-up, body weight was assessed. At 6-month follow-up, alexithymic patients showed a poorer % total weight loss compared with non-alexithymic patients (p = .017), and moderately depressed patients showed a lower % total weight loss compared with non-depressed patients (p = .011). Focused pre- and postoperative psychological support could be useful in bariatric patients in order to improve surgical outcome.