The case of bariatric surgery: a pilot study University of Salerno

• Author: G. Cersosimo/A. Santonicola/P. Iovino
• Position: University of Salerno, Department of Medical, Surgery and Dentistry/University of Salerno, Department of Medical, Surgery and Dentistry/University of Salerno, Department of Medical, Surgery and Dentistry
• Pages: 117-124

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017

THE CASE OF BARIATRIC SURGERY: A

PILOT STUDY UNIVERSITY OF SALERNO

G. CERSOSIMO1 A. SANTONICOLA2 P. IOVINO3

Abstract: The paper analyses, through interdisciplinary approaches, the

perception of one’s own body image in subjects treated with bariatric

surgery. This research clearly emphasizes the increase in adult obesity for

biological causes as well as for factors inextricably bound up with a range of

social and cultural elements, such as dietary habits, social and local

backgrounds, family and gender customs. The work presents the results of an

investigation on a sample of people treated with bariatric surgery and

realized through quantitative methodologies. The results of the research have

shown the need for adoption of a more comprehensive and holistic

perspective to further extend the discussion, connecting a social

epidemiological framework for obesity together with an analysis of the

transformations in the process of socialization of the people. The research

showed also that for the bariatric surgery is important for each patient

because s/he prefers the perspective of the body as a ‘project’ and for people

such a project casts into a total adherence to the indications received by their

respective doctors.

Key words: globesity, obesity, adherence to recommendations post-

surgery, new lifestyle.

1. Introduction

Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat mass inducing adverse effects on health, in

fact it is a risk factor for illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer which has

become a worldwide epidemic, and it is also associated with nutritional deficiencies

(Sánchez et al., 2015; Peterson et al., 2015). Indeed, although obese subjects display an

excess caloric intake, they are prone to malnutrition as previously shown in obese

individuals who had lower serum vitamin status than healthy lean controls matched for age

and sex (Aasheim et al., 2008). Studies evaluating morbidly obese patients before bariatric

surgery (BS), also demonstrated subclinical serum protein depletion (Ledoux et al., 2006)

as well as micronutrient deficiencies (Coupaye et al., 2014). These findings may be the

result of under consumption of foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meat during

energy dense meals (Lo Menzo et al., 2014).

Therapeutic strategies to treat obesity are limited. Although effective, lifestyle

intervention is both disappointing regarding the degree of weight loss (Dyson et al., 2010)

1 University of Salerno, Department of Medi cal, Surgery and Dentistry, gcersosi@unisa.it

2 University of Salerno, Department of Medical, Sur gery and Dentistry

3 University of Salerno, Department of Medical, Surgery and Dentistry