Partnership, sexuality, and sexual disorders in morbidly obese women: Consequences of weight loss after gastric banding

Background: A study was performed to determine what consequences surgery fo r morbid obesity has on sexual attitudes and partnership in obese female pa tients. Method: Semi-structured interviews concerning sociodemographic data, sexual ity and relationship were conducted on 82 female patients preoperatively an d at least 1 year postoperatively. Results: Physical appearance played the main role in the decision to underg o weight reduction surgery in only 17% of the study patients. Postoperative ly, half of the patients were satisfied with their physical appearance 1 ye ar after surgery, the other half not. Preoperatively, 44% of the patients s tated that sexuality with their partners was satisfying and the frequency o f sexual intercourse was regular. Postoperatively, 63% of the patients stat ed that they enjoyed sex more, compared with 12% of the patients who enjoye d sex less than before surgery. Postoperatively, 20% of the patients report ed that partnership had changed positively, 10% negatively. Conclusions: The results indicate that many of the sexual problems in obese individuals are the result of an underlying lack of self-esteem, unsatisfa ctory relationships, or collective stigmatization of obese individuals. Bin ge eating, often found in morbidly obese patients, seems to be less the res ult of or compensation for sexual problems but is more likely to stem from other psychosocial or psychological problems.