Influence of bariatric surgery on quality of life, body image, and general self-efficacy within 6 and 24 months-a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It has been proven that bariatric surgery affects weight loss. Patients with morbid obesity have a significantly lower quality of life (QOL) and body image compared with the general population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate QOL, body image, and general self-efficacy (GSE) in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery within clinical parameters.

SETTINGS: Monocentric, prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

METHODS: Patients completed the short form 36 (SF-36) for QOL, body image questionnaire, and GSE scale 3 times: before surgery and within 6 months and 24 months after surgery. Influence of gender, age, and type of procedure, either laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, were analyzed.

RESULTS: Thirty patients completed the questionnaires before and within 6 and 24 months after surgery. SF-36 physical summary score improved significantly from 34.3±11.0 before surgery to 46.0±10.4 within 6 months (P<.001) and to 49.8±8.2 within 24 months (P<.001) after surgery. SF-36 mental summary score improved significantly from 42.1±14.7 before surgery to 52.3±8.4 within 6 months (P<.001) and to 48.4±12.2 within 24 months (P<.001) after surgery. There were no significant differences between gender, age, and type of operation. Body image and GSE improved significantly after bariatric surgery (P<.001), and both correlated to the SF-36 mental summary score.

CONCLUSION: QOL, body image, and GSE improved significantly within 6 months and remained stable within 24 months after bariatric surgery. Improvements were independent of gender, age, and type of operation. Mental QOL was influenced by body image and GSE.