Body Image Evaluation of the Obese Population in a Surgical weight Reduction Context: Systematic Review

Abstract

Body image is broadly defi ned as the set of perceptions, thoughts and feelings of an individual about his own body. Changes in body image in severe obesity condition are consistently reported in the medical and psychological literature. The aim of this research was to investigate the set of instrumental assessment applied in studies of body image in obese within the context of surgical intervention for weight loss. We conducted a systematic review in fi ve databases from January 2009 to December 2014. Articles in English and Portuguese were included for analysis. The search with the descriptors returned 462 records of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. Nine instruments that measure body image have been identifi ed. There is a signifi cant trend towards the use of self-report scales on perceived satisfaction of body image. Although the literature describes perceptual changes in body image in obese population, its evaluation prioritizes the level of subjective satisfaction with body image.Keywords: Obesity, body image, surgery, systematic review. Avaliação de Imagem Corporal em Obesos no Contexto Cirúrgico de Redução de Peso: Revisão Sistemática ResumoA imagem corporal é amplamente defi nida como o conjunto de percepções, pensamentos e sentimentos de um indivíduo sobre o seu próprio corpo. A alteração da imagem corporal em quadros de obesidade severa é relatada consistentemente na literatura médica e psicológica. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi investigar o instrumental de avaliação de imagem corporal utilizado em estudos com obesos no contexto de intervenção cirúrgica de redução de peso.