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Published in: Obesity Surgery 12/2014

01-12-2014 | Brief Communication

Internalized Weight Bias in Weight-Loss Surgery Patients: Psychosocial Correlates and Weight Loss Outcomes

Authors: Michelle R. Lent, Melissa A. Napolitano, G. Craig Wood, George Argyropoulos, Glenn S. Gerhard, Sharon Hayes, Gary D. Foster, Charlotte A. Collins, Christopher D. Still

Published in: Obesity Surgery | Issue 12/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

In this study, we examined the relationship between pre-operative internalized weight bias and 12-month post-operative weight loss in adult bariatric surgery patients.

Methods

Bariatric surgery patients (n = 170) from one urban and one rural medical center completed an internalized weight bias measure (the weight bias internalization scale, WBIS) and a depression survey (Beck depression inventory-II, BDI-II) before surgery, and provided consent to access their medical records.

Results

Participants (BMI = 47.8 kg/m2, age = 45.7 years) were mostly female (82.0 %), White (89.5 %), and underwent gastric bypass (83.6 %). The average WBIS score by item was 4.54 ± 1.3. Higher pre-operative WBIS scores were associated with diminished weight loss at 12 months after surgery (p = 0.035). Pre-operative WBIS scores were positively associated with depressive symptoms (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Greater internalized weight bias was associated with more depressive symptoms before surgery and less weight loss 1 year after surgery.
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Metadata
Title
Internalized Weight Bias in Weight-Loss Surgery Patients: Psychosocial Correlates and Weight Loss Outcomes
Authors
Michelle R. Lent
Melissa A. Napolitano
G. Craig Wood
George Argyropoulos
Glenn S. Gerhard
Sharon Hayes
Gary D. Foster
Charlotte A. Collins
Christopher D. Still
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Obesity Surgery / Issue 12/2014
Print ISSN: 0960-8923
Electronic ISSN: 1708-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1455-z

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