04/03/2010
Weight loss surgery may cause depression
by William Hobson
Whilst many people are turning to bariatric surgery for weight loss, the effects of the procedure can lead to depression according to a new study.
Although gastric bands and gastric bypasses are being used by many people to lose weight, new research reported in The Daily Telegraph reveals that many who have taken up the procedure may suffer from low self-esteem, relationship problems and struggle to cope with their new lifestyle. Although there are definite health benefits to the procedure, it appears as though there can also be significant psychological impacts.
Researchers from the University of the West of England and Bristol's Southmead Hospital found that many people struggled to cope with the loss of eating as a coping strategy. Although their surgery had removed their appetite and their ability to indulge in large quantities of or particular types of food at all, many still had the same psychological problems that caused their unhealthy eating habits in the first place.
According to The Telegraph, patients who have undergone this kind of surgery could benefit from psychological support to deal with their weight loss; hypnotherapy and other cognitive behavioural treatments could not only help promote the healthy eating habits required by the surgery, but they could also help people come to terms to with the restrictive lifestyle required after bariatric surgery. Where obesity is caused by psychological or emotional problems rather than medical conditions, weight loss hypnotherapy could also encourage a healthier lifestyle without the need for surgery.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Simon O'Neill of health charity Diabetes UK said that "Weight loss surgery can be a way of losing significant amounts of weight for people who are obese. However, surgery does have serious associated risks and should only be considered if sustained attempts to lose weight through diet and lifestyle changes have been unsuccesful. This new research also shows that there might be psychological consequences to having the procedure."
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