How Does an Eating Disorder Affect Your Physical and Mental Health and How It Is Related to Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Abstract

Background Obesity is the pandemic of this era. At the same time, the commercialisation of thinness has also increased its adversity. Dissatisfaction with body shape is leading to many eating disorders. These disorders further cause several health problems. It has been found that individuals with eating disorders experience insomnia, depression, and anxiety. It also affects the endocrine system and digestive systems of the body. The surgical approach provides a more efficient treatment of obesity with sustainable results. Sleeve gastrectomy is the most popular surgical treatment. Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the prominent bariatric surgeries. Patients going through sleeve gastrectomy not only lose weight but also improve their mental health. Objective This study assesses the relationship between obesity, eating disorders, and physical health. It also focuses on the prevalence of sleeve gastrectomy procedures in such individuals and their outcomes. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design and a convenient sampling technique. The obese individuals who had eating disorders residing in Medina Al-Munawara and Riyadh city were taken as the samples. Online questionnaires were shared with participants to collect their perspectives on their weight, eating disorders, and their impact on physical health. The study collected both retrospective and present data. Results A total sample of 335 participants was taken, of which 181 (54%) were females and 154 (46%) were males, with a mean BMI of 28.85±2.57. The fear of weight gain was found among 265 (79%) of participants, 151 (45%) were feeling guilt while eating, 275 (82%) were weighing themselves daily, 325 (97%) were unable to stop eating even when complete, and 117 (35%) were unable to control themselves when they have food. As per the methods of avoiding weight gain, 166 (49.6%) were skipping a meal, 157 (47%) were following a diet, 17 (5%) were inducing vomiting, and 16 (4.8%) reused laxatives and diuretics. A total of 158 (47.2%) were involved in sports, but it was reduced to 61 (18.25%) upon sickness. Only 24 (7%) participants had undergone sleeve gastrostomy, and 181 (54%) believed that their cravings had increased, 238 (71%) complained of dizziness, and 151 (45%) believed that fast food caused gut unrest. Conclusion Obese individuals who are going through eating disorders are psychologically and physically compromised. They consider skipping meals to be the most efficient means of weight loss, and only a small percentage prefer to go for sleeve gastrectomy.

Keywords: eating disorder; mental health; obesity; physical health; sleeve gastrectomy.

Figure 1. Age distribution of data

The data have been represented as the percentage (%) of occurrence of the variables.

Figure 2. Symptoms of eating disorders

Figure 3. Symptoms of eating disorders

Figure 4. Prevalence of sleeve operation

The data have been represented as the percentage (%) of occurrence of the variables.

Figure 5. Occurrence of dizziness in the participants

Here, code 1 represents the participants who do not feel any dizziness, code 2 represents the participants who feel dizzy in the morning, code 3 represents the participants who feel dizzy before a meal, and code 4 represents the participants who feel dizzy after a meal.

Figure 6. Foods causing gut problems

The data have been represented as the percentage (%) of occurrence of the variables.