David B. Sarwer, PhD

David B. Sarwer, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania as well as Director of Clinical Services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. He received his B.A. in 1990 from Tulane University, his M.A. in 1992 from Loyola University Chicago and his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1995 from Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Sarwer's research interests focus on the assessment and treatment of obesity. He is Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on three NIH funded grants investigating the psychological aspects of bariatric surgery. He is also involved in two studies investigating the treatment of obesity in primary care settings. Dr. Sarwer is also a consultant to the Edwin Fannie Gray Hall Center for Human Appearance at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center where he conducts research on the psychological aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has numerous publications in both areas of research.

Clinically, Dr. Sarwer is the Director of the Stunkard Weight Management Program and is actively involved in the Bariatric Surgery Program at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He conducts behavioral/psychological evaluations of patients prior to surgery. He also treats individuals with eating or other psychological concerns after bariatric surgery.

Dr. Sarwer provides psychotherapeutic treatment to persons who have body dysmorphic disorder or other appearance concerns.

Dr. Sarwer can be contacted at: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St., Suite 3026, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, 215-898-7314. His e-mail address is dsarwer@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Recent publications include:

Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Moore RH, Eisenberg MH, Raper SE, Williams, NN. Changes in Quality of Life and Body Image after Gastric Bypass Surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 2010;6(6):608-614.

Sarwer DB, Crerand CE. Body dysmorphic disorder and appearance enhancing medical treatments. Body Image. 2008; 5:50-58.

Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Moore RH, Baker AW, Gibbons LM, Raper SE, Williams NN. Preoperative Eating Behavior, Postoperative Dietary Adherence and Weight Loss Following Gastric Bypass Surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 2008; 5:640-646.

Sarwer DB, Brown GK, Evans DL. Cosmetic Breast Augmentation and Suicide: A Review of the Literature. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2007; 164:1006-1013.

Sarwer DB, Pruzinsky T, Cash TF, Goldwyn RM, Persing JA, Whitaker LA (eds.) The Psychology of Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery: Clinical, Empirical, and Ethical Perspectives. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkens, 2006.

Useful link: Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Body Image Program