Body Image and Sexuality After Bariatric Surgery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Sexual desire may decrease among obese individuals who feel worthless and therefore there may be behaviors that avoid sexuality. Sexuality, one of the activities of daily life, is an issue that is affected by cultural norms and rules and individuals have difficulties expressing their sexual problems comfortably. In a systematic review which is about the effect of bariatric surgery on sexuality; it was emphasized that bariatric surgery, the most widely used treatment in obesity, has positive effects upon reproductive hormones and sexual functions thanks to weight loss. In light of these information above-mentioned; the study was done to examine the correlation between body perception and sexual life before and after bariatric surgery among obese individuals.

Detailed Description
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Obese individuals who want to learn healthy life behaviors and wish to acquire and to realize behavioral changes that will help them cope with health problems are in need of training and counseling. In this process, nurses -being in close and continuous contact with individuals- play counselor role as a part of their educator roles. It is stated that nurses need to understand, empathize with and support individuals who suffer from different problems while they play this role. In presence of obesity, which is a psychophysiological condition; nurses should also consider the fact that obese individuals who face bitter criticisms and social exclusion may show low self-esteem and impaired body image due to excessive weight and therefore they should give these individuals opportunities to express their feelings as to how they perceive themselves. The studies in literature that investigated the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and self-esteem and body perception report that obese individuals demonstrate relatively lower self-esteem and body perception as compared to the normal individuals. Psychological and hormonal disorders, impaired body image and chronic diseases that develop with obesity influence sexual life negatively, too. Therefore; sexual desire may decrease among obese individuals who feel worthless and therefore there may be behaviors that avoid sexuality. Sexuality, one of the activities of daily life, is an issue that is affected by cultural norms and rules and individuals have difficulties expressing their sexual problems comfortably.

Official Title
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Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Body Image Level and Sexual Life of Individuals

Conditions
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Obesity, Morbid, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Accepted to join the study, Did not have such psychiatric disorders as anxiety, depression and personality disorders Were aged between 18 and 65. Exclusion Criteria: Do not accepting to join the study, Have such psychiatric disorders as anxiety, depression and personality disorders Older from 65, under the age of 18.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Obese individuals' Descriptive Characteristics and Findings Related to the Disease as assessed by Information Request Form. | At the first stage of the research, by the obese individuals Information Request Form is filled in to specify socio-demographic characteristics. | 1 day | 
| Obese individuals' Body Perception as assessed by Body Perception Scale at the pre-operation period | Body Perception Scale filled in to determine how satisfied they were the various parts of their bodies and various body functions at the pre-operation period by the obese individuals. The scale includes 40 items and each item refers to an organ or a limb (arm, leg, face, etc.) or a function (sexual activity level). Each item score ranges from 1 to 5 by marking I do not like at all, I do not like, I am uncertain, I like, I like a lot. Total score ranges from 40 to 200. High scores indicate high level of satisfaction. Cutoff score of the scale was 135 and scores lower than 135 (≥135) indicate lower body perception. | 1 day | 
| Obese individuals' sexual functions respective of sexual orientation as assessed by Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale  at the pre-operation period | The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale was filled in to measure sexual functions related to sexual orientation and the relationship with partners at the pre-operation period by the obese individuals. Scores for each question range from 1 to 6 and total score ranges from 5 to 30. Lower scores indicate strong, easy and satisfactory sexual response while higher scores indicate presence of sexual dysfunctions. According to Soykan, a score ≥11 is a cutoff score for sexual dysfunction. | 1 day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Obese individuals' Body Perception as assessed by Body Perception Scale at the post-operation period | Body Perception Scale filled in to determine how satisfied they were the various parts of their bodies and various body functions at the post-operation period by the obese individuals. The scale includes 40 items and each item refers to an organ or a limb (arm, leg, face, etc.) or a function (sexual activity level). Each item score ranges from 1 to 5 by marking I do not like at all, I do not like, I am uncertain, I like, I like a lot. Total score ranges from 40 to 200. High scores indicate high level of satisfaction. Cutoff score of the scale was 135 and scores lower than 135 (≥135) indicate lower body perception. | 1 day | 
| Obese individuals' sexual functions respective of sexual orientation as assessed by Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale  at the post-operation period | The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale was filled in to measure sexual functions related to sexual orientation and the relationship with partners at the post-operation period by the obese individuals. Scores for each question range from 1 to 6 and total score ranges from 5 to 30. Lower scores indicate strong, easy and satisfactory sexual response while higher scores indicate presence of sexual dysfunctions. According to Soykan, a score ≥11 is a cutoff score for sexual dysfunction. | 1 day | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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bariatric surgery, body image, sexuality, obesity