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Bariatric Surgery is Associated with Reduced Depressive Symptoms and Better Sexual Function in Obese Female Patients: A One-Year Follow-Up Study

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Abstract

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity; few studies, however, have investigated its impact on patients’ sexuality. We aimed to determine bariatric surgery’s effect on female patients’ body mass index (BMI), anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sexual function and delineate predictors of treatment outcomes. Fifty-nine obese female bariatric candidates were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Female Sexual Function Index 1 week before surgery (T1) and 1 year after (T2). Statistical analysis revealed significant reductions in BMI (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), and sexual pain levels (p = 0.014) and significant improvements in sexual desire (p = 0.005), arousal (p = 0.001), lubrication (p = 0.003), satisfaction (p = 0.012), and total sexual function (p = 0.003) postoperatively. Postoperative total sexual function was independently predicted by baseline sexual function and low baseline BMI. Bariatric surgery is an effective way to reduce weight, manage depression, and improve sexual function in female obese patients.

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Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Patras Medical School, Rion Patras, 26504, Greece

    Konstantinos Assimakopoulos, Katerina Karaivazoglou & Gregoris Iconomou

  2. Nutrition Support and Morbid Obesity Clinic, Department of Surgery, University of Patras Medical School, Rion Patras, Greece

    Spiros Panayiotopoulos & Fotis Kalfarentzos

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece

    Thomas Hyphantis

Authors
  1. Konstantinos Assimakopoulos
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  2. Katerina Karaivazoglou
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  3. Spiros Panayiotopoulos
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  4. Thomas Hyphantis
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  5. Gregoris Iconomou
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  6. Fotis Kalfarentzos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantinos Assimakopoulos.

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Assimakopoulos, K., Karaivazoglou, K., Panayiotopoulos, S. et al. Bariatric Surgery is Associated with Reduced Depressive Symptoms and Better Sexual Function in Obese Female Patients: A One-Year Follow-Up Study. OBES SURG 21, 362–366 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0303-z

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