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

Abstract

Objective: This aim of this study was to investigate levels of impulsivity in morbid and non-morbid obese patients and the relationship between impulsivity level and body perception and self-esteem. Methods: One hundred fifty-two volunteers, 76 obesity patients and 76 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included. Morbid and non-morbid obesity patients’ impulsivity levels were measured using the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), body perception using the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) and self-esteem using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Results: There was no difference between morbid and non-morbid obesity patients and the healthy control group in terms of motor impulsivity subscale scores. Total impulsivity scores and attentional impulsivity and non-planning impulsivity subscale scores were higher in the morbid obesity patients compared to the healthy controls, but there were no differences in these scores between the non-morbid obesity patients and healthy controls. Non-planning impulsivity subscale scores were higher in the morbid obesity patients compared to the non-morbid group. A negative correlation was determined between impulsivity and self-esteem in the obesity patients. Conclusions: A high impulsivity level may be a significant factor in the development of morbid obesity. Psychotherapeutic interventions based on self-esteem and impulsive characteristics such as inattention, cognitive instability and being focused on the moment, in other words, not making plans for the future, in morbid obesity patients may assist the medical and surgical treatment of such patients.