Imagen corporal en pacientes sometidos a cirugía bariátrica

Abstract

Obesity is a health problem that has grown considerably in recent years, affecting a high percentage of the world population (WHO, 2015). One of the treatments, currently used to treat this condition is bariatric surgery, which has been so far one of the most effective techniques in terms of significant weight loss and maintenance of results (Abeles & Shikora, 2008). In that order, it is pertinent to understand how these bodily changes are associated with the body images, which consist of the representation that each subject makes of his own body. This body image is composed of perceptual, cognitive, affective and behavioral variables. The objective of this work will be to explore, in a multidimensional way, the impact of weight loss in patients who underwent bariatric surgery in body image, in the four dimensions previously mentioned. This research is presented as a compilation of the main findings in the specialized literature; therefore, a reflection on the four components of body image is described, in relation to obesity conditions and sudden weight change, through surgical procedures such as bariatric surgery.