Imagem corporal de mulheres submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica

Abstract

According to the World Health organization (WHO), the epidemic of obesity is spreading around the world. The severity of the problem led to a significant number of researches which approach the prevention and the treatment of obesity, including diets, medicine and physical activity among others. In the search to minimize the problem, the Bariatric Surgery is being considered the most effective procedure in the reduction and maintenance of weight for the morbid obese. The aim of this study was to investigate the approach to Body Image of women who were submitted to the Bariatric Surgery at least a year ago and whose treatment has been monitored by the Hypertension and Diabetes Control Service (SCHDO) of the city of Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Twenty women in their forties were interviewed and the complete transcription of their answers was transcribed so as to compose the corpus of this research. The tool used was the semi-structured interview with both essay and multiple choice questions. The Content Analysis, according to Bardin’s perspective (1977) was used. Thus, from the accounts, five categories were found: Obesity history, health, Bariatric Surgery, social factors and the body. From the study of these categories, it was possible to trace the trajectory of the respondents up to the moment of the surgery. The influence of the appearance and the function in the Body Image of the respondents were very significant. We have come to the conclusion that the group studied had spent years trying alternatives such as diets and medicine before choosing the surgery. Physical activity was not found to be a very common form of treatment, but it had more importance in the post operation phase. Obesity led to the loss of several organic functions which were improved through the Bariatric Surgery. However, that improvement is reported together with the fact that the women regained their independence, their roles in the social context and also established a new relationship with their own bodies, being able to take care of themselves and exploring the body in movement. The pre and post operation phases also presented a close relation between appearance and body Image. Therefore, the other’s look on the respondents indicated how the women saw themselves in both phases. But discrimination and the critical eye made these women feel different from all others while admiration looks after the surgery made them feel normal in relation to the others. In addition, more studies to confirm these results and the creation of a tool capable of assessing Body Image of people submitted to treatments which change their appearances considerably are necessary.