Obésité. Pourquoi les régimes échouent-ils ?

Evaluation of Eating Habits and Quality of Life in Postbariatric Surgery Patients and Their Family Members: A Case-Control Study

Background

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. Today, bariatric surgery is considered as the last option and most effective treatment for severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m² or BMI ≥35 kg/m² with metabolic conditions).

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the medium-term effect (>36 months) of bariatric surgery and assess postbariatric nutritional and lifestyle management among Lebanese patients who underwent bariatric surgeries in Jbeil and Keserwan hospitals.

Methods

This study is a quantitative case-control study. The case group includes a couple of patients who have undergone sleeve or bypass surgery 6 months ago and above, along with the main family caregivers. The control group constitutes a couple of obese patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m² who did not proceed to any surgical intervention with their main caregivers. The final samples consisted of 53 cases and caregivers and 50 controls and caregivers. The assessment was made by an online questionnaire.

Results

Compared to obese patients, bariatric patients were less likely to have high energy intake (54% versus 34%, P value 0.012). Moreover, 35.8% of the caregivers of bariatric patients had a low physical activity level compared to those of the control group who had a lower level (70%). In addition, cases' main caregivers (75.5%) had much higher quality of life compared to the cases (56.6%), and also, higher quality of life was seen among the case's main caregivers (75%) compared to the controls (72%).

Conclusion

In Jbeil and Keserwan regions of Lebanon, there is a lack of postbariatric nutritional and lifestyle management leading to less desirable outcomes in the medium to long term. A set of recommendations are developed based on this study.

[Exploratory population study of overweight and obese subjects' perceptions: Searching for improved management practices]

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity are major public health problems of growing concern. Few studies have investigated the representations and perceptions of subjects with overweight and obesity, especially in the general population, as compared to people in a medical weight loss process. The objective of this study was to fill this gap by enabling participants to express their feelings and experience about their overweight, and to assess the extent of the body mass index (BMI) as a determinant of these perceptions.

METHODS

A total of 4155 persons participated in an exploratory study conducted in Wallonia (Belgium). Data were collected by means of a web-based questionnaire. This study investigated the following parameters: sociodemographic and anthropometric factors, perceived health, quality of life, diet perception, enrolment in a weight loss process and weight loss target. The influence of BMI was considered, on one hand, looking at how the above variables evolve according to BMI category, secondly, as a mediation factor in the relationship between socioeconomic level and these same variables.

RESULTS

A large majority (87.5%) of subjects were overweight (32.2%) or obese (obese class I 29.9%, class II 14.8%, class III 10.6%). Perceived health was found to deteriorate with the BMI (P<0.0001); obese class III had a 5.9-fold risk to present bad perceived health compared to subjects with normal weight. The physical and psychological quality of life reported by the subjects decreased significantly with the BMI (P<0.0001) particularly for the physical quality of life. The percentage of poor diet perception (frustration, weight gain, aggressiveness, inefficacy and impossibility) as well as the weight loss targeted by the subjects increased with the BMI. Between overweight subjects and obese class III subjects, weight loss target increased from 13% to 34% of the initial weight. The majority of subjects judged that diet represents "aggressiveness", "weight gain" and "impossibility". A partial mediation role of BMI was identified in the relationship between social status and the variables of interest.

CONCLUSIONS

This study focused on a sample of people from the general population. It confirmed previous results of others studies. All results gave a feeling of resignation and powerlessness which can seize obese individuals (especially when BMI increases). As a consequence, there is a need for more adapted weight management to achieve a genuine therapeutic alliance.