Self-Concept Evaluation on the Bariatric Patient

4th meeting of young researchers at UP 537 Self-Concept Evaluation on the Bariatric Patient C. Morais 1, R. Poínhos2, P. Freitas3, B.Oliveira1,4, F. Correia1,3 1 Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto. 2 Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação. 3 Serviço de Endocrinologia, Hospital de São João, EPE, Porto. 4 LIAAD – INESC Porto, LA; Universidade do Porto. Background: Obesity is a public health problem that affects an increasing number of subjects and morbid obesity’s prevalence has been increasing. There is a greater prevalence of psychological and psychiatric morbidity among obese subjects when compared to normalweight ones [1]. Today, Bariatric Surgery’s considered, in the long-term, obesity’s most effective therapeutic option, resulting in significant improvements on the individual’s physical, psychological and social health [2]. Research in this field has focused on the diseases’ psychological aspects, however, Self-Concept (perception that the subject has of himself) has been drawn down. Objectives: Evaluate Self-Concept on the subject with morbid obesity, about to undergo bariatric surgery, and characterize it’s variation following the surgical procedure. Methods: This study included patients from a central hospital, who have undergone adjustable gastric banding. They were evaluated before, 1 and 3 months after surgery at a Nutrition followup appointment. Anthropometric data were collected and Self-Concept was evaluated using ICAC. Results: In the studied sample a significant (p=0,046) increase in mean physical activity levels was observed between pre and post-surgical evaluations. After surgery, significant (p<0,05) reductions on mean body weight, BMI and waist and hip perimeters were found. Self-concept’s total score lowered a mean of 1,5 points between the two evaluation moments. A variation in the associations for total self-concept and their factors was observed, however none of the associations showed statistical significance. Discussion: Studies are needed with samples of adequate size and with periodic follow-up superior to understand the importance of assessing the ICAC in the framing of obesity with specific clinical indication for bariatric surgery. References: [1] Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Fabricatore AN. Psychosocial and behavioral aspects of bariatric surgery. Obes Res. 2005; 13(4):639-48. [2] Hsu LK, Benotti PN, Dwyer J, Roberts SB, Saltzman E, Shikora S, et al. Nonsurgical factors that influence the outcome of bariatric surgery: a review. Psychosom Med. 1998; 60(3):338-46.