Prevalence and predictors of self-reported sexual abuse in severely obese patients in a population-based bariatric program.

Background: Sexual abuse may be associated with poorer weight loss outcomes following bariatric treatment. Identifying predictors of abuse would enable focused screening and may increase weight management success.

Methods: We analyzed data from 500 consecutively recruited obese subjects from a population-based, regional bariatric program. The prevalence of self-reported sexual abuse was ascertained using a single interview question. Health status was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify sexual abuse predictors.

Results: The mean age was 43.7 y (SD 9.6), 441 (88.2%) were females, 458 (91.8%) were white, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 47.9 kg/m(2) (SD 8.1). The self-reported prevalence of past abuse was 21.8% (95% CI 18.4-25.4%). Abused subjects had worse health status (VAS score 53.1 (SD 21.2) versus 58.0 (SD 20.1), P = 0.03). BMI was not associated with abuse (P > 0.5). Age, sex, BMI, and covariate-adjusted independent predictors of abuse included alcohol addiction (adjusted odds ratio 15.8; 95% CI 4.0-62.8), posttraumatic stress disorder (4.9; 2.5-9.5), borderline personality (3.8; 1.0-13.8), depression (2.4; 1.3-4.3), and lower household income (3.4; 1.6-7.0).

Conclusions: Abuse was common amongst obese patients managed in a population-based bariatric program; alcohol addiction, psychiatric comorbidities, and low-income status were highly associated with sexual abuse.