Gender differences in patients with morbid obesity candidates for bariatric surgery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the differences by gender of patients with morbid obesity that are bariatric surgery candidates. The sample was composed of 441 patients evaluated through a clinical interview, the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE, version CIE-10) and the Gardner´s Body Image Assessment Scale. The results show that obese women sought treatment twice as much as men. Moreover, we found other gender differences, such as more Axis I pathology in the female group, and women showing a higher level of dissatisfaction and a more distorted body image than men.