Depression, Anxiety, Discrimination, and Stigma Across Candidate Patients for Bariatric Surgery

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, perceived discrimination, and weight stigma among bariatric surgery candidates. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to November 2024 at a tertiary care obesity treatment center using convenience sampling. Participants ( N = 210) completed validated tools, including the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, and a discrimination scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent group comparisons, correlation tests, and multivariate adjusted models. Results: The median age of participants was 39 years. Based on body mass index (BMI), patients were categorized into Group A (35–40, n = 75) and Group B (>40, n = 135). BMI was significantly associated with marital status ( p = 0.049) and education level ( p = 0.031). While 43.8% had no or minimal depression, 81.4% reported grade 2 anxiety. Group A showed significantly higher depression scores ( p = 0.012), whereas severe anxiety was more frequent in Group B. Moderate discrimination and mild stigma were commonly reported. Adjusted analyses revealed positive correlations between BMI and both discrimination (rs = 0.33, p < 0.001) and stigma (rs = 0.23, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Psychological distress and perceived stigma are prevalent in candidates for bariatric surgery. It is recommended to implement psychosocial screening and provide targeted psychological interventions to improve mental health and postoperative outcomes among them.