Impulsivity in patients with obesity and correlations with body perception and self-esteem

Abstract

Objective: This aim of this study was to investigate levels ofimpulsivity in morbid and non-morbid obese patients and the relationshipbetween impulsivity level and body perception and self-esteem. Methods:One hundred fifty-two volunteers, 76 obesity patients and 76 age-andgender-matched healthy controls were included. Morbid and non-morbidobesity patients' impulsivity levels were measured using the BarratImpulsivity Scale (BIS-11), body perception using the Body CathexisScale (BCS) and self-esteem using Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).Results: There was no difference between morbid and non-morbid obesitypatients and the healthy control group in terms of motor impulsivitysubscale scores. Total impulsivity scores and attentional impulsivityand non-planning impulsivity subscale scores were higher in the morbidobesity patients compared to the healthy controls, but there were nodifferences in these scores between the non-morbid obesity patients andhealthy controls. Non-planning impulsivity subscale scores were higherin the morbid obesity patients compared to the non-morbid group. Anegative correlation was determined between impulsivity and self-esteemin the obesity patients. Conclusions: A high impulsivity level may be asignificant factor in the development of morbid obesity.Psychotherapeutic interventions based on self-esteem and impulsivecharacteristics such as inattention, cognitive instability and beingfocused on the moment, in other words, not making plans for the future,in morbid obesity patients may assist the medical and surgical treatmentof such patients.