Relationship between body image and psychological well-being in patients with morbid obesity

Background: Morbid obesity is rising around the world. It can cause unpleasant appearance and body image. Most of the studies have aimed to evaluate the psychopathology of overweight and obesity and paying attention to mental well-being in morbid obese individuals is rare. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between body image and psychological well-being in morbid obese patients

Methods: This cross-sectional study, using simple random sampling method, was done on 124 morbid obese patients who referred to obesity clinic in Shiraz from 2016 to 2017. The data were collected by body image index and psychological well-being questionnaire. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient test, ANOVA, and Regression analysis

Results: The results showed a significant relationship between body image and psychological wellbeing [r=0.43] [P<0.001], and between the total score of the body image and all the subscales of psychological well-being except autonomy and purpose in life [P<0.05]. There was also a significant relationship between the total score of psychological well-being and all the subscales of body image [P<0.05]. However, there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the body image and those of psychological well-being in different categories of body mass index [BMI] [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Final results indicated that body image defects caused by obesity could lie in negative psychological well-being in all aspects. This study can promote health clinicians' knowledge in supporting of mental status of obese individuals. It is suggested that preventing and supporting intervention should be performed as effective methods for encountering and coping with psychological effects of obesity

Predictor of trend of hemoglobin A1c in type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal linear mixed model

There are some evidences that control the blood sugar decreasing the risk of diabetes complications, and even fatal. There are so many studies, but they are mostly cross-sectional and ignore the trend and hence it is necessary to implement a longitudinal study. The aim of this prospective study is to find the trend of glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] over time and the associative factors on it. Participants of this longitudinal study were 3440 eligible diabetes patients referred to Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center during 2000-2012 who are measured 2-40 times. A linear mixed model was applied to determine the association between HbA1c and variables, including lipids, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and complications such as nephropathy, and retinopathy. Furthermore, the effect of mentioned variables on trend of HbA1c was determined. The fitted model showed total cholesterol, retinopathy, and the method of therapy including oral antidiabetic drugs [OADs] plus insulin and insulin therapy decreased the trend of HbA1c and high-density lipoprotein, weight, hyperlipidemia and the method of therapy including diet, and OADs increased the trend of HbA1c. The present study shows that regular visits of diabetic patients as well as controlling blood pressure, lipid profile, and weight loss can improve the trend of HbA1c levels during the time

How do obese women cope with social stigma? A phenomenological study

Background: The findings of many studies confirm that obesity includes social stigma. Stigma involves several stereotypes that have negative psychosocial effects. The goal of this study was to evaluate the experience of social stigma in obese women with emphasis on their coping strategies

Methods: After the interview was done in the department with 24 Sleeve female candidate, their narratives were analyzed using descriptive phenomenological approach

Results: Results showed that obese women had undesirable experiences of social stigma. Nevertheless, they used coping strategies to adapt with new conditions. The main strategies revealed include social resistance; passivity; psychological problems and hysteria; extreme denial of self body image; social isolation; and ignorance of what others say [self empowerment]

Conclusion: Social stigma of obesity affects the obese women negatively. Although obese women use several strategies to cope, with huge social and personal costs are imposed on them. To reduce these costs, policy-makers should pay attention to desensitization of obesity in society with emphasis on women. To this end, they can use media instruments on the one hand and make the cultural context and infrastructures such as school and universities on the other

effects of blockingÿangiotensinÿreceptorsÿonÿearlyÿstagesÿofÿdiabeticÿnephropathy

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs] on markers of endothelial function in patients with early stage of diabetic nephropathy [DN]. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 32 participants with IDDM from January 2010 until May 2011 in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were candidate for receiving ARBs or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] to decrease microalbuminuria. The inclusion criteria were as follows: the age of onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] less than 15 years; normal glomerular filtration rate [GFR]; normal blood pressure; normal cardiovascular examination; negative urine culture, receiving no medications except insulin. Microalbuminuria was measured in two fasting urine samples with a sampling interval of at least 1-2 months by ELISA method. Patients with two abnormal results were included. Microalbumin to creatinin ratio equal to or more than 30 mg/gm was considered abnormal. The fasting blood samples to determine serum nitric oxide [NO] and vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM] were obtained at the time 0 [before starting the study], and after 2 months of receiving ARBmedication. Valsartan tablet [Diovan, Novartis Company] with a dose of 1 mg/kg/day up to 80 mg/day in a single dose was administered. Urine microalbumin to creatinin ratio after valsartan consumption was lower than microalbumin level before the medication, P < 0.05. After valsartan consumption, serum VCAM-1 level reduced and NO level increased significantly, P < 0.05. Angiotensin receptor blockers may reduce VCAM-1 and microalbuminuria and may increase NO levels in early stages of DN. Thus administration of ARBs might be considered even in early stages of DN