Temperament, Character, Personality Characteristics and Eating Attitudes of People Seeking Bariatric Surgery

Year 2022, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 458 - 468, 31.08.2022

Neriman Aras , İzzettin Kahraman , Hakan Yılmaz , Müge Ustaoğlu

https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.1112504

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze differences in temperament, character, personality characteristics and eating attitudes between the patients seeking bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity and the general population.
Methods: The candidates for bariatric surgery were assessed pre-operatively using the Temperament-Character Inventory (TCI) and Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ) for personality characteristics, and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) for their eating behavior.
Results: The candidates for bariatric surgery had higher scores on the Impulsivity and Compassionate sub-dimensions of the TCI, whilst the score on the Self sub-dimension was lower than in the controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls in the subscales of the Personality Belief Questionnaire. The candidates for bariatric surgery were found to have more impaired eating habits.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that certain personality characteristics may both cause obesity and may be effective in the treatment method used to treat obesity. Taking into account the personality characteristics of patients and assessing their eating patterns when determining therapeutic approaches to obesity, including bariatric surgery, may be beneficial in achieving effective, long-term results in weight control. In patients scheduled for bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity, providing individualized psychiatric support to develop their impulsivity-related self-control skills may enhance the success of obesity treatment.

Keywords

Obesity, Bariatric Surgery, Temperament, Character, Personality, Eating Attitudes

References

• 1. Monteleone AM, Cascino G, Solmi M, Pirozzi R, Tolone S, Terracciano G, ... & Docimo L. A network analysis of psychological, personality and eating characteristics of people seeking bariatric surgery: Identification of key variables and their prognostic value. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2019;120:81-89.
• 2. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022, https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.
• 3. Dalle Grave R, Calugi S, Compare A, El Ghoch M, Petroni ML, Colombari S,... & Marchesini G. Personality, attrition and weight loss in treatment seeking women with obesity. Clinical Obesity 2015;5(5):266-272.
• 4. Köse S. A Psychobiological Model of Temperament and Character: TCI. Yeni Symposium 2003;41:86-97.
• 5. Sullivan S, Cloninger CR, Przybeck TR, Klein S. Personality characteristics in obesity and relationship with successful weight loss. International journal of obesity 2007;31(4):669-674.
• 6. Gerlach G, Herpertz S, Loeber S. Personality traits and obesity: a systematic review. Obesity reviews 2015;16(1):32-63.
• 7. Norén E, Forsell H. Aspiration therapy for obesity; a safe and effective treatment. BMC Obesity 2016;3:56.
• 8. Garcia D, Forssell H, Cloninger KM. Temperament and Character among Patients Waiting for Obesity Surgery. Poster Presentation. Conference: 30th APS Annual Convention; May 24-27; San Francisco, CA, USA: 2018.
• 9. Gordon PC, Sallet JA, Sallet PC. The impact of temperament and character inventory personality traits on long-term outcome of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obesity surgery 2014;24(10):1647-1655.
• 10. Eroğlu MZ, Sertçelik Ş, Tamam L. Eating disorders in bariatric surgery candidates admitted to Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi 2018;19(4):355-361.
• 11. Magee CA, Heaven PC. Big-Five personality factors, obesity and 2-year weight gain in Australian adults. Journal of Research in Personality 2011;45(3):332-335.
• 12. Bordignon S, Aparício MJG, Bertoletti J, Trentini CM. Personality characteristics and bariatric surgery outcomes: a systematic review. Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy 2017;39:124-134.
• 13. National Institutes of Health. NIH consensus statement covers treatment of obesity. American Family Physicians 1991;44:305-306.
• 14. Mechanick JI, Youdim A, Jones DB, Garvey WT, Hurley DL, McMahon MM, ... & Brethauer S. Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient—2013 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 2013;9(2):159-191.
• 15. North American Association for the Study of Obesity, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, & NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative. The practical guide: identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative, North American Association for the Study of Obesity, 2000.
• 16. Cloninger CR, Svrakic DM, Przybeck TR. A Psychobiological model of temperament and character. Archives of General Psychiatry 1993;50:975-990.
• 17. Cloninger CR, Przybeck TR, Svrakic DM, Wetzel RD. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): a guide to its development and use. St Louis, Missouri, USA: Center for Psychobiology of Personality, 1994.
• 18. Kose S, Sayar K, Ak I, Aydin N, Kalelioǧlu Ü, Kirpinar I, & Cloninger CR. Turkish version of the TCI: Reliability, validity, and factorial structure. Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2004;14(3).
• 19. Taymur I, Turkcapar MH. Current Approaches in Psychiatry. Current Approaches in Psychiatry 2012; 4(2):154-177.
• 20. Turkçapar MH, Orsel S, Ugurlu M, Sargin E, Turhan M, Akkoyunlu S, & Karakas G. Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of Personality Belief Questionnaire. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2007;10:177-191.
• 21. Garner DM, Garfinkel PE. Eating attitudes test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine 1979;9:273-9.
• 22. Savaşır I, Erol N. The eating attitudes test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Journal of Psychology 1989;7:19-25.
• 23. Ergüney-Okumuş FE, Sertel-Berk HÖ. The Psychometric Properties of the Eating Attitudes Test Short Form (EAT-26) in a College Sample. Studies in Psychology 2019;40(1):57-78.
• 24. Berberoğlu, Z. Examination of the relationship among bariatric surgery patients' childhood trauma and body perception, self-esteem and eating attitude. Master Thesis. Istanbul: Okan University Institute of Social Sciences. 2020.
• 25. Generali I, De Panfilis C. Personality traits and weight loss surgery outcome. Current obesity reports 2018;7(3):227-234.
• 26. Mertol, S. Character and temperament dimensions in patients with adult separation anxiety disorder. Medical Speciality Thesis. İzmir: Dokuz Eylul Unıversity School of Medicine. 2011.
• 27. Sarwer DB, Allison KC, Wadden TA, Ashare R, Spitzer JC, McCuen-Wurst C, ... & Wu J. Psychopathology, disordered eating, and impulsivity as predictors of outcomes of bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 2019;15(4),650-655.
• 28. Björvell H, Aly A, Langius A, Nordström G. Indicators of changes in weight and eating behaviour in severely obese patients treated in a nursing behavioural program. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1994;18:521–525.
• 29. Mantzios M, Wilson JC. Mindfulness, eating behaviours, and obesity: a review and reflection on current findings. Current obesity reports 2015;4(1):141-146.
• 30. Federico A, Spalatro AV, Giorgio I, Enrica M, Abbate Daga G, Secondo F. Personality and psychopathology differences between bariatric surgery candidates, subjects with obesity not seeking surgery management, and healthy subjects. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity 2019;24(4):623-631.
• 31. Mauri M, Rucci P, Calderone A, Santini F, Oppo A, Romano A, & Cassano GB. Axis I and II disorders and quality of life in bariatric surgery candidates. The Journal of clinical psychiatry 2008;69(2):1729.
• 32. Claes L, Muller A. Temperament and personality in bariatric surgery—resisting temptations? European Eating Disorders Review 2015;23(6):435-441.
• 33. Yıldız Ş, Alphan E, Batar N. Comparison of eating attitudes and behaviors and body mass index changes in patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy. Kafkas Journal of Medical Sciences 2020;10(2):136-144.