Can Body Group Therapy after Bariatric Surgery be Effective to Avoid Weight Regain? A Clinical Experience

Introduction:Weight regain may occur with bariatric surgery and it depends on nutritional, psychological and surgery-related factors. The persistence of body shape concern and uneasiness after weight loss is considered a risk factor for weight regain. Weight loss after Bariatric surgery determines change of the cognitive-behavioral component of Body Image, but not the emotional one. The aim of this study is to show that Group psychotherapy can repair the body image emotional component achieving weight maintenance. Method:30 patients: mean age 38 SD ± 10, 71; 18 women, 12 men; mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 48 SD± 8,31 suffering from onset obesity, were enrolled in this study. All participants were evaluated before and after bariatric surgery. They underwent body group psychotherapy to reinforce body image and self Results:Results of body group therapy were: a significant increase of the ability to use body in the relation with the others and a better tendency to accomplish new experiences. No differences were found among groups in self reinforcement process related to sleeve and gastric by-pass. Conclusion:Psychotherapy is an effective tool in changing body Image and reinforcing self. This process can be more effective in achieving and structuring weight stability and realize obesity healing.