Abstract
Background
Previous research revealed a relationship between higher body mass index (BMI) and
lower sexual functioning. However, the role of psychosocial variables, such as body
image, in this relationship has been understudied.
Objective
To assess sexual life before and after weight loss surgery (WLS) and examine the role
of body image and BMI in these changes.
Setting
WLS center at a major urban community hospital.
Methods
327 participants (275 women and 52 men) who underwent either laparoscopic Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass surgery (n = 225) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (n = 102)
were assessed on measures of sexual life preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24
months after surgery. The number of completers were n = 126 at 1-month follow-up,
n = 84 at 3 months, n = 86 at 6 months, n = 84 at 12 months, and n = 55 at 24 months.
Results
There was a significant increase in quality of sexual life over time, F(5,479.5) = 24.3, P<.001. Greater body image dissatisfaction predicted lower quality of sexual life when
controlling for BMI, F(1,580.3) = 36.9, P<.001, but BMI did not predict quality of sexual life when controlling for body dissatisfaction,
F(1,566.6)<.01, P = .94. A mediation analysis revealed that the relationship BMI had with sexual life
was through its influence on body dissatisfaction.
Conclusion
Participants experienced improvements in quality of sexual life over time after WLS,
and decrease in body image dissatisfaction was the strongest predictor of these improvements.
These results underscore the importance of body image, independent of weight loss,
in postsurgical sexual life.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 09, 2017
Accepted:
January 6,
2017
Received:
July 21,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
