Evaluation of excess skin in Swedish adults 18-59 years of age

• Background: Little is known about excess skin in the normal population. The aim of this study was, therefore, to analyse the prevalence, impairments, and discomfort of excess skin in a cross-section of the Swedish population. Methods: From the population registry of the Swedish Tax Agency, 1408 subjects living in Vastra Gotaland County from 18-59 years of age were randomly selected with an equal distribution of the sexes. Additionally, age was equally distributed, although twice as many subjects under 40 years of age were sent the questionnaire due to an expected low response rate for younger people. All subjects were asked to fill out the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ), which included questions concerning the amount of and discomfort due to excess skin. Results: No excess skin was reported by 78% of responders, including 71% of women and 87% of men. The responders who reported any excess skin were significantly older, had a higher body mass index (BMI) and reported larger differences between their maximum and current BMI. The most common reported site of excess skin was the abdomen in both women and men (26% and 8%, respectively), and this was reported to cause the most discomfort (median 4 and 2, respectively, on a scale from 0-10). Women graded psychosocial symptoms significantly higher than men, but there were no significant differences in other symptoms. Conclusions: The results indicate that Swedish adults, regardless of sex, do not suffer from excess skin and may be considered as reference values.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Bariatric surgery

body contouring surgery

excess skin

massive weight loss

Sahlgrenska excess skin questionnaire

SESQ

body-contouring surgery

quality-of-life

laparoscopic gastric bypass

randomized clinical-trial

bariatric surgery

weight-loss

duodenal

switch

experience

obesity

image

Orthopedics

Surgery

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)