A characterization of the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 lockdown in post-bariatric surgery patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The lockdown caused by COVID-19 has an extreme impact on most people's lives. Notwithstanding, some individuals are more predisposed to experience deterioration in their psychological status and/or inaccessibility to adequate treatment and, consequently, they should be devoted with greater attention. Namely, for example, post-bariatric surgery patients who need continuous monitoring about eating behavior and psychological distress. Particularly in medium/long term post-surgery (≥ 36 months), a period of increased susceptibility to weight regain. The present study goals are to characterize the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 lockdown for post-bariatric patients and identify its associations with disordered eating behavior and psychological distress. Methods: Twenty-four post-bariatric surgery (M=42.88 months post-surgery, DP=4.73) women (M=50.92 years, DP=12.81) responded to an online questionnaire and a telephone-interview assessing the perceived impact of the lockdown, psychosocial, psychological, and eating behavior aspects during the first lockdown period. Results: Fourteen (58.3%) of the participants inquired reported perceived weight gain during the lockdown, thirteen (54.1%) reported limited access to social support, and twelve (50%) reported limited access to health care. Positive associations were found between the global psychosocial impact experienced during lockdown and difficulties in dealing with emotionally activating situations (rs=.45, p=.027) and stress symptoms (rs=.44, p=.030). Negative associations were found between co-habiting with more persons during lockdown and difficulties in dealing with emotionally activating situations (rs=-.49, p=.015), fear of getting fat (rs=-.48, p=.019), fear of losing control over eating (rs=-.56, p=.005), and disordered eating psychopathology (rs=-.47, p=.022). Conclusion: As clinical implications, the present findings highlighted the need to monitor post-bariatric surgery patients, facilitate health care access, and promote social support during lockdown periods.