Background: Very few data are available on psychological distress in morbidly obese subjects in relation to weight history. In subjects with childhood obesity, psychological distress might be better than in adult-onset obesity, because of progressive adaptation to the social stigma. Method: we tested psychological distress in relation to BMI at age 20 years (BMI-20), weight history and somatic comorbidities in 632 treatment-seeking, morbidly obese participants from the QUOVADIS cohort (130 men, 502 women; mean age 45.5 years). The number of dieting attempts/year, BMI increase and cumulative BMI loss since age 20 were calculated as weight cycling parameters. The Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB), the Binge-Eating Scale and the ORWELL-97 questionnaire were used to score psychometry and health-related quality of life. Complications were quantitatively assessed by a modified Charlson’s score. Results: BMI-20 was normal in 35% of cases and >35 kg/m2 in only 14%. Psychometric scores were not different in relation to BMI-20, when corrected for age, with the exception of the General Health scale of PGWB, showing a greater distress in subjects with normal BMI-20. In most cases, the prevalence of pathological results of questionnaires showed a J-shaped curve, with participants with normal BMI-20 or those with Class II-III obesity in early adulthood having the highest prevalence of psychological/ psychiatric distress and poor HRQL. Weight cycling was a risk factor for binge-eating, depression and interpersonal sensitivity at SCL-90, whereas somatic comorbidities adversely affected most SCL-90 and all PGWB scales. Conclusion: Weight cycling and somatic comorbidities, but not age of onset of obesity, are the main factors negatively influencing psychological health in treatment-seeking, morbidly obese subjects.

M.L. Petroni, N. Villanova, S. Avagnina, M.A. Fusco, G. Fatati, A. Compare, et al. (2007). Psychological distress in morbid obesity in relation to weight history. OBESITY SURGERY, 17, 391-399 [10.1007/s11695-007-9069-3].

Psychological distress in morbid obesity in relation to weight history

M. L. Petroni;VILLANOVA, NICOLA;MARCHESINI REGGIANI, GIULIO;
2007

Abstract

Background: Very few data are available on psychological distress in morbidly obese subjects in relation to weight history. In subjects with childhood obesity, psychological distress might be better than in adult-onset obesity, because of progressive adaptation to the social stigma. Method: we tested psychological distress in relation to BMI at age 20 years (BMI-20), weight history and somatic comorbidities in 632 treatment-seeking, morbidly obese participants from the QUOVADIS cohort (130 men, 502 women; mean age 45.5 years). The number of dieting attempts/year, BMI increase and cumulative BMI loss since age 20 were calculated as weight cycling parameters. The Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB), the Binge-Eating Scale and the ORWELL-97 questionnaire were used to score psychometry and health-related quality of life. Complications were quantitatively assessed by a modified Charlson’s score. Results: BMI-20 was normal in 35% of cases and >35 kg/m2 in only 14%. Psychometric scores were not different in relation to BMI-20, when corrected for age, with the exception of the General Health scale of PGWB, showing a greater distress in subjects with normal BMI-20. In most cases, the prevalence of pathological results of questionnaires showed a J-shaped curve, with participants with normal BMI-20 or those with Class II-III obesity in early adulthood having the highest prevalence of psychological/ psychiatric distress and poor HRQL. Weight cycling was a risk factor for binge-eating, depression and interpersonal sensitivity at SCL-90, whereas somatic comorbidities adversely affected most SCL-90 and all PGWB scales. Conclusion: Weight cycling and somatic comorbidities, but not age of onset of obesity, are the main factors negatively influencing psychological health in treatment-seeking, morbidly obese subjects.
2007
M.L. Petroni, N. Villanova, S. Avagnina, M.A. Fusco, G. Fatati, A. Compare, et al. (2007). Psychological distress in morbid obesity in relation to weight history. OBESITY SURGERY, 17, 391-399 [10.1007/s11695-007-9069-3].
M.L. Petroni; N. Villanova; S. Avagnina; M.A. Fusco; G. Fatati; A. Compare; G. Marchesini Reggiani; QUOVADIS Study Group
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/48719
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