Eating attitudes, perceptions of body image and patient quality of life before and after bariatric surgery.

AIM

This study examined eating attitudes, perceptions of body image and quality of life of patients before and after bariatric surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, descriptive study was conducted with fifty patients between April 23, 2018 and November 05, 2018. The data were collected by a survey form, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Body Image Perception Questionnaire and SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. The data collection instruments were applied before the surgery and at 1, 3 and 6 months following the surgery.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 36.34 ± 10.89 years, 78% were females, 44% were university graduates, 80% were married, 78% had a child, 70% were employed, 80% were morbidly obese before the surgery, and 36% were morbidly obese at the first month following the surgery. It was also determined that there was no morbid obesity among the patients, and 84% of the patients were obese at the third month following the surgery. At the sixth postoperative month, 24% of the patients were found to be obese, and 8% had normal weight. It was determined that the patients' eating attitudes and behaviours changed significantly after the surgery in comparison to their pre-surgery values (p = 0.001). The body image perceptions and quality of life of the patients during the postoperative period were found to be significantly higher in comparison to their preoperative values (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that multidimensional evaluation of patients and implementation of nursing interventions contributed positively to individuals undergoing bariatric surgery based on healthy lifestyle behaviours.