Self-Esteem Scores Soar One Year After Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery

Greater improvement in scores seen for patients with higher postoperative weight loss

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Self-esteem scores increase after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), with greater improvement in scores for those with higher postoperative weight loss, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, held from June 15 to 19 in Washington, D.C.

Justin Dhyani, M.D., from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, and colleagues examined changes in patients’ internalized weight stigma before and after MBS. Patients aged 18+ who underwent primary bariatric surgery from 2006 to 2019 were identified (5,749 patients). They completed the Impact of Weight Quality of Life questionnaire (iwQOL) survey preoperatively and at 12 months. The seven-item self-esteem score from the iwQOL was used to assess weight stigma.

The researchers found that for the overall group and within each surgery type, self-esteem scores increased significantly (33.6 to 77.5 overall), with the smallest change for biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (+31.6). Smaller increases in self-esteem scores were seen for patients with higher versus lower preoperative body mass index (+34.8 versus +46.9 for BMI of 50 kg/m² versus 40 kg/m²). A greater improvement in self-esteem scores was seen for patients with higher postoperative weight loss. No statistically significant differences in change in weight stigma were seen for sex, age, or race/ethnicity.

“Understanding weight stigma and psychosocial factors associated with obesity is essential to offering holistic care,” Dhyani said in a statement. “While these factors should not dictate the decision to have bariatric surgery, they should be an important part of the conversation.”