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‘My goal was to become normal’—A qualitative investigation of coping with stigma, body image and self-esteem long-term after bariatric surgery

Jiretorn, Linda ; Engström, My ; Laursen, Cecilia ; Ramos Salas, Ximena and Järvholm, Kajsa LU (2024) In Clinical Obesity
Abstract
Improved self-esteem and body image, as well as reduced experiences of weight stigma are important patient-reported obesity treatment outcomes. However, more knowledge is needed about how individuals who have undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) perceive themselves and their bodies and use different coping strategies in relation to body image and self-esteem long-term after MBS. In this qualitative study body image, self-esteem, weight stigma and coping strategies were explored among 18 individuals who underwent MBS more than 10 years ago when interviewed. Using reflexive thematic analysis, two primary themes were identified: ‘Experiences of living with a stigmatised body’ and ‘Coping with weight stigma, body image and... (More)
Improved self-esteem and body image, as well as reduced experiences of weight stigma are important patient-reported obesity treatment outcomes. However, more knowledge is needed about how individuals who have undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) perceive themselves and their bodies and use different coping strategies in relation to body image and self-esteem long-term after MBS. In this qualitative study body image, self-esteem, weight stigma and coping strategies were explored among 18 individuals who underwent MBS more than 10 years ago when interviewed. Using reflexive thematic analysis, two primary themes were identified: ‘Experiences of living with a stigmatised body’ and ‘Coping with weight stigma, body image and self-esteem’, and eight sub-themes. Findings capture frequent experiences of weight stigma before bariatric surgery, the need for coping with stigma and body dissatisfaction before and after MBS, and how different coping strategies are related to participants' perceptions of their bodies and self-concepts. More adaptive coping strategies, such as confrontation and cognitive restructuring may facilitate more positive body image outcomes, than more ruminative and avoidant strategies. Understanding adaptive coping strategies can be useful to develop interventions to reduce negative consequences of weight stigma on body image and self-esteem. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
bariatric surgery, body image, coping, self-esteem, weight stigma
in
Clinical Obesity
publisher
Wiley
external identifiers
  • pmid:38549516
  • scopus:85189523354
ISSN
1758-8111
DOI
10.1111/cob.12657
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
62fbacb5-dc0c-4902-aafa-0b697b422812
date added to LUP
2024-03-30 06:53:50
date last changed
2024-04-22 12:12:09
@article{62fbacb5-dc0c-4902-aafa-0b697b422812,
  abstract     = {{Improved self-esteem and body image, as well as reduced experiences of weight stigma are important patient-reported obesity treatment outcomes. However, more knowledge is needed about how individuals who have undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) perceive themselves and their bodies and use different coping strategies in relation to body image and self-esteem long-term after MBS. In this qualitative study body image, self-esteem, weight stigma and coping strategies were explored among 18 individuals who underwent MBS more than 10 years ago when interviewed. Using reflexive thematic analysis, two primary themes were identified: ‘Experiences of living with a stigmatised body’ and ‘Coping with weight stigma, body image and self-esteem’, and eight sub-themes. Findings capture frequent experiences of weight stigma before bariatric surgery, the need for coping with stigma and body dissatisfaction before and after MBS, and how different coping strategies are related to participants' perceptions of their bodies and self-concepts. More adaptive coping strategies, such as confrontation and cognitive restructuring may facilitate more positive body image outcomes, than more ruminative and avoidant strategies. Understanding adaptive coping strategies can be useful to develop interventions to reduce negative consequences of weight stigma on body image and self-esteem.}},
  author       = {{Jiretorn, Linda and Engström, My and Laursen, Cecilia and Ramos Salas, Ximena and Järvholm, Kajsa}},
  issn         = {{1758-8111}},
  keywords     = {{bariatric surgery; body image; coping; self-esteem; weight stigma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{Clinical Obesity}},
  title        = {{‘My goal was to become normal’—A qualitative investigation of coping with stigma, body image and self-esteem long-term after bariatric surgery}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cob.12657}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/cob.12657}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}