Il ruolo della rappresentazione dell'immagine corporea nel benessere psicofisico dei pazienti sottoposti a chirurgia bariatrica.

Background: Body image is a multidimensional concept, and it includes perceptive, cognitive, affective and behavioral factors of body representations. Concerns about body image can significantly affect a person's psychophysical well-being. Obese identity is related to body image in the lifetime and concerns of this present in obese people who undergo bariatric surgery. The aim of this study is to examine the body image changes in patients with obesity pre-and post-bariatric surgery. Methods: Participants completed a clinical psychological assessment prior to surgery and during post-operative follow-up. Correlations and multiple regressions were performed. Results: The result of this study confirmed the importance on the role of body image in psychophysical well-being of people who undergoing bariatric surgery. Dissatisfaction of one's own body image persisted even after surgery and as a result there is a difficulty in adapting to the new body. Conclusion: These findings suggested the importance of a targeted psychological assessment procedures on perception of one's own body image and a following clinical psychological support to address the change in body image during weight loss due to surgery bariatric.