Małgorzata Obara-Gołębiowska

Levels of depression, anxiety and irritability in Obesity Clinic patients

The aim of the study was to assess depression, anxiety and irritability levels in patients of Obesity Clinic. The study included 82 patients. Modified version of  Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used in the study. In the group of obesity clinic inpatients 46% obtained scores indicating increased level of anxiety and/or depression. Pathological level of anxiety and/or depression was noted in 29,2% participants. Coexistence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was observed in the majority of these patients. Patients with increased level of depression and/or anxiety did not differ significantly from patients who obtained results within normal range in terms of BMI. In patients with pathological level of depression and/or anxiety mean level of irritability was higher than in the whole study group. Increased level of depression and/or anxiety is common among obesity clinic inpatients. Psychological diagnosis, counseling and psychotherapy may occur to be one of the key element of weight reduction treatment.

Subjective assessment of body weight and eating behavior of women in the reproductive age

Objective: To investigate the emotional and habitual binge eating and the use of dietary restrictions in relation to the possessed and the expected body weight, physical activity and the willingness to change weight among young women of reproductive age.

Material and methods: The study included 332 women aged 18 to 27 (20.6 ±1.4)years who completed the Questionnaire of Eating Behavior of Nina Ogińskiej-Bulik and Leszek Putyński extended to own constructed inquiry form questions relative to body weight, the incidence of weight loss diets, level of physical activity and place of residence. Then women were measured height, weight and body fat.

Results: Among women, 63.9% of respondents were dissatisfied with their body shape, and 33.5% were dieting although 1 time. Women with excess body weight compared to the women with normal weight were most dissatisfied with body shape (97.9% vs. 65.1%, p <0.01) and showed the greatest tendency to emotional overeat (4.5 ± 2.2 points round. 5.2 ± 2 points, p <0.01) and dietary restriction (3.5 ± 2.7 vs. 4.8 ± 2.3, p <0.01).

Conclusions: Women of childbearing age, regardless of weight loss, should be surrounded by a preventive education program, taking into account aspects of proper nutrition and psychology in order to prevent the development of eating disorders, including pregorexia, that may affect their and child health.