Impact of the Use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy on Body Image After Bariatric Surgery
Impact of the Use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy on Body Image After Bariatric Surgery
The purpose ot the study is to assess the effectiveness of the use of VERT on improving body image at 12 months in patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the weight stabilization phase (between 18 and 30 months after bariatric) presenting dissatisfaction with their body image compared to standard follow-up in post-bariatric surgery (lack of specific management of body image).
Virtual reality therapy makes it possible to work on the integration of proprioceptive information via the reproduction of environments close to reality and therefore allow the patient to accept his new identity. This tool is used in an increasing number of indications and in particular in the management of dysmorphophobia in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. In the context of bariatric surgery, only case reports have been published so far. Significant improvements in the body satisfaction scores of patients have been showed, in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery who presented bodily dissatisfaction after 6 weeks of virtual reality. However, larger numbers, longer follow-up periods and more rigorous methodologies are needed to confirm the impact of this practice. The hypothesis of the study is that virtual reality therapy could improve body image in patients who are dissatisfied with their body image after bariatric surgery.