Quality of Life of Pre-Surgery Bariatric Patients: A focus on appearance
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The first national meeting of textile and clothing professors took place in Madison, Wisconsin in June 1959. With a mission to advance excellence in education, scholarship and innovation, and their global applications, the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) is a professional and educational association of scholars, educators, and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education.
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Abstract
Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic, impairing the health and overall quality of life for those who suffer from it. According to the World Health Organization (2013), more than 500 million adults worldwide are obese, and bariatric surgical procedures are currently considered one of the most successful long-term solutions for morbid obesity (Picot et al., 2009). Although evidence indicates that patient motivation to undergo the surgical procedures is mainly health related, individuals also seek the procedure to improve their appearance (Sarwer, Dilks, & Spitzer, 2011). One study found that nearly 33% of the participants were motivated to get bariatric surgery based on concerns about and embarrassment with their appearance (Libeton, Dixon, Laurie, & O’Brien, 2004), while another study indicated that 18% of the participants wished to improve their appearance by getting bariatric surgery (Dixon et al., 2009). Given, the purpose of this study is to examine 1) how appearance impacts quality of life of pre-surgery bariatric patients physically and socially; 2) how appearance takes the place in their motivations to undergo bariatric surgery; and 3) what kinds of wardrobe issues they have experienced.