Body image and body weight in obese patients

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 299 - 306
• Main Authors: Adami, G.F, Gandolfo, P, Campostano, A, Meneghelli, A, Ravera, G, Scopinaro, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-11-1998; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; adult-onset; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Body Weight; early-onset obesity; Eating disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - psychology; Personality Inventory; postobese subjects; Psychology; psychosocial factors; Self image; timing; Weight; women; Human; Obesity; Attitude; Body image; Body weight; Nutrition disorder; Self perception; Personality; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199811)24:3<299::AID-EAT7>3.0.CO;2-H

Objective: To evaluate the influence of body weight on body image. Methods: The study was carried out in severely obese patients and in postobese subjects, having attained and maintaining a normal or nearly normal weight following biliopancreatic diversion; body image was assessed by self-report questionnaires. Results: The obese patients' scores were different from those of postobese subjects. In postobese individuals with adult-onset obesity, body image was very similar to that of controls, whilst in those with early-onset obesity it was abnormal. Discussion: In the adult-onset obese patients, since the weight normalization causes a sharp improvement of body image, its alterations could be accounted for by a body shape far different from that socially acceptable. In the early-onset obese patients, being the postoperative findings similar to those of the obese patients and different from those of never-obese controls, the body image disparagement might reflect inner feelings, independent of body weight.