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Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) is a common surgery method used to help obese patients to lose weight. However, even if LAGB is able to produce a durable and relevant weight loss, it is less effective in improving body image: as demonstrated by a recent study, obese patients with a body image disorder in the pre-operative stage continue to show this even 13 months after the operation. In this presentation we will discuss the possible role of virtual reality (VR) in addressing this problem within an integrated cognitive behavioral approach. To test this approach, a case series of three LAGB patient who experienced body dissatisfaction even after a >30/40% excess body weight loss, is presented and discussed. At the end of the 6-week protocol the patients experienced a 15%-20% further reduction of their weight. This reduction was also matched by a general improvement of the psychological state. Both the weight loss and the level of well-being were further improved after a three-month follow-up.

Bariatric surgery is an operation on the stomach and/or intestines that helps patients with extreme obesity to lose weight. Even if bariatric surgery, compared with traditional obesity treatment, is more effective in reducing BMI, this approach does not achieve equal results in every patient. More, following bariatric surgery common problems are body image dissatisfaction and body disparagement: there is a significant difference between the weight loss clinicians consider successful (50% of excess weight) and the weight loss potential patients expect to achieve (at least 67% of the excess weight). The paper discusses the possible role of virtual reality (VR) in addressing this problem within an integrated treatment approach. More, the clinical case of a female bariatric patient who experienced body dissatisfaction even after a 30% body weight loss and a 62% excess body weight loss, is presented and discussed.