Bariatric (weight loss) surgery has helped many obese people shed the pounds. But it may also put them at risk for substance abuse, according to a new study published by Archives of Surgery.
Alexis Conason, PsyD., of the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, and colleagues followed 155 patients, mostly women, who had had the surgery. Using questionnaires, they found a significant increase in post-surgery substance abuse (drug use, alcohol use and cigarette smoking) during a 24-month follow-up period.
Studies have shown that drugs, alcohol, and food trigger similar responses in the brain and that bariatric surgery candidates whose condition has been diagnosed as binge-eating disorder ¦ display addictive personalities similar to individuals addicted to substances, the authors wrote.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava says this is something that doctors who are evaluating people for bariatric surgery need to inquire about. I would imagine people go a bit crazy if they re used to snacking all the time and all of a sudden they can t, she says. But trading obesity for habitual drug, alcohol or cigarette use is not the path to better health. Perhaps people who have a propensity for such addictive behavior, or who have strong family histories of such, can receive pre- or post operative counseling to help them avoid this problem.