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Implications of Early Onset Obesity on Psychiatric Wellbeing in Patients who Undergo Body Contouring Procedures
Anne E. Glenney, BA1; Joseph W. Mocharnuk, BA1; Pooja Humar, BS2; Peter J. Rubin, MD2; Jeffrey A. Gusenoff, MD2
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
2023-01-30
Presenter: Anne E. Glenney
Affidavit:
Vu Nguyen
Director Name: Vu Nguyen
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Aesthetics
Introduction: Childhood obesity is a stigmatizing condition, and its incidence is increasing exponentially. In 1978 only 3% of children aged 3-17 were obese; now, 19.7% of children are obese, and the onset of obesity occurs in younger cohorts each year. Patients who develop obesity early in life suffer unique psychosocial consequences that continue into adulthood and impact psychological welfare and self-image in body-contouring patients.
Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who presented to a single institution for body contouring procedures between 2002 and 2018. Variables studied included demographic information, medical and psychiatric history, smoking and drinking history, self- image, social support, procedure history, outcomes and follow up.
Results: A total of 1187 patients received at least one body contouring procedure. Among these patients, 58% were obese before the age of 18 and 42.8% of patients were obese before the age of 11. Notably, patients who were obese before age 11 were 1.7 times more likely to suffer from at least one psychiatric comorbidity; specifically, they were 1.5 times more likely to suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (p<0.05). Additionally, patients who were obese before the age of 18 were 77% less likely to report positive pre-operative body image than patients who developed obesity in adulthood.
Conclusions: Body contouring patients with childhood-onset obesity have a higher incidence of psychiatric comorbidities and worse self-rated body-image than patients who develop obesity later in life. These findings have implications on screening, provision of comprehensive interdisciplinary care, and post-operative management of this patient cohort.
