Psychological Aspects of Bariatric Surgery As a Treatment for Obesity

Overview

Journal Curr Obes Rep

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2017 Mar 1

PMID 28243838

Citations 29

Authors

Sandra Jumbe

Claire Hamlet

Jane Meyrick

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Little is known about the psychological effects on life after bariatric surgery despite the high prevalence of psychological disorders in candidates seeking this procedure. Our review discusses the literature around the psychological impact of bariatric surgery, exploring whether the procedure addresses underlying psychological conditions that can lead to morbid obesity and the effect on eating behaviour postoperatively.

Recent Findings: Findings show that despite undisputed significant weight loss and improvements in comorbidities, current literature suggests some persisting disorder in psychological outcomes like depression and body image for patients at longer term follow-up, compared to control groups. Lack of postoperative psychological monitoring and theoretical mapping limits our understanding of reasons behind these findings. Reframing bariatric approaches to morbid obesity to incorporate psychological experience postoperatively would facilitate understanding of psychological aspects of bariatric surgery and how this surgical treatment maps onto the disease trajectory of obesity.

Citing Articles

Association Between the Predominant Domain of Eating Behavior and Perception of Distortion and Satisfaction with Body Image in People Who Underwent Bariatric Surgery in Brazil.

Rodrigues R, Pereira I, Bahia G, Souza A, Teixeira P, Paracampo C Nutrients. 2025; 17(5).

PMID: 40077721 PMC: 11901686. DOI: 10.3390/nu17050850.

Enhancing nutritional health and patient satisfaction five years after metabolic bariatric surgery with targeted supplementation.

Gorini S, Camajani E, Franchi A, Cava E, Gentileschi P, Bellia A J Transl Med. 2025; 23(1):216.

PMID: 39984967 PMC: 11846221. DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06224-9.

Dietary Habits, Obesity, and Bariatric Surgery: A Review of Impact and Interventions.

Maxim M, Soroceanu R, Vlasceanu V, Platon R, Toader M, Miler A Nutrients. 2025; 17(3).

PMID: 39940332 PMC: 11820207. DOI: 10.3390/nu17030474.

Prevalence and factors influencing eating disorders among post-bariatric surgery patients in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Alghamdi S, Al Jaffer M, Almesned R, Alanazi S, Alhnake A, Alkhammash S Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2025; 30(1):36-43.

PMID: 39800418 PMC: 11753594. DOI: 10.17712/nsj.2025.1.20240023.

Applying the Principles of Trauma-Informed Care to the Evaluation and Management of Patients Who Undergo Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Sarwer D, Schroeder K, Fischbach S, Atwood S, Heinberg L Obes Surg. 2024; 35(1):305-311.

PMID: 39592546 PMC: 11717798. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-024-07597-4.

References

Robinson T, Berridge K . Review. The incentive sensitization theory of addiction: some current issues. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2008; 363(1507):3137-46. PMC: 2607325. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0093. View

Bond D, Raynor H, Vithiananthan S, Sax H, Pohl D, Roye G . Differences in salivary habituation to a taste stimulus in bariatric surgery candidates and normal-weight controls. Obes Surg. 2009; 19(7):873-8. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-009-9861-3. View

Singh G, Jackson C, Dobson A, Mishra G . Bidirectional association between weight change and depression in mid-aged women: a population-based longitudinal study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013; 38(4):591-6. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2013.127. View

Booth H, Khan O, Prevost A, Reddy M, Charlton J, Gulliford M . Impact of bariatric surgery on clinical depression. Interrupted time series study with matched controls. J Affect Disord. 2015; 174:644-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.050. View

Deng T, Lyon C, Bergin S, Caligiuri M, Hsueh W . Obesity, Inflammation, and Cancer. Annu Rev Pathol. 2016; 11:421-49. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-012615-044359. View

Scholtz S, Miras A, Chhina N, Prechtl C, Sleeth M, Daud N . Obese patients after gastric bypass surgery have lower brain-hedonic responses to food than after gastric banding. Gut. 2013; 63(6):891-902. PMC: 4033279. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305008. View

Herpertz S, Kielmann R, WOLF A, Langkafel M, Senf W, Hebebrand J . Does obesity surgery improve psychosocial functioning? A systematic review. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(11):1300-14. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802410. View

Dawes A, Maggard-Gibbons M, Maher A, Booth M, Miake-Lye I, Beroes J . Mental Health Conditions Among Patients Seeking and Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2016; 315(2):150-63. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.18118. View

Bond D, Phelan S, Leahey T, Hill J, Wing R . Weight-loss maintenance in successful weight losers: surgical vs non-surgical methods. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008; 33(1):173-80. PMC: 2624545. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2008.256. View

10.

Markey C, August K, Bailey L, Markey P, Nave C . The pivotal role of psychology in a comprehensive theory of obesity. Health Psychol Open. 2017; 3(1):2055102916634365. PMC: 5193294. DOI: 10.1177/2055102916634365. View

11.

Gloy V, Briel M, Bhatt D, Kashyap S, Schauer P, Mingrone G . Bariatric surgery versus non-surgical treatment for obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2013; 347:f5934. PMC: 3806364. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f5934. View

12.

Picot J, Jones J, Colquitt J, Loveman E, Clegg A . Weight loss surgery for mild to moderate obesity: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Obes Surg. 2012; 22(9):1496-506. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-012-0679-z. View

13.

Abiles V, Rodriguez-Ruiz S, Abiles J, Mellado C, Garcia A, Perez de la Cruz A . Psychological characteristics of morbidly obese candidates for bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2008; 20(2):161-7. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-008-9726-1. View

14.

Tiggemann M, Zaccardo M . 'Strong is the new skinny': A content analysis of #fitspiration images on Instagram. J Health Psychol. 2016; 23(8):1003-1011. DOI: 10.1177/1359105316639436. View

15.

Mechanick J, Youdim A, Jones D, Garvey W, Hurley D, McMahon M . Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient--2013 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American.... Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013; 21 Suppl 1:S1-27. PMC: 4142593. DOI: 10.1002/oby.20461. View

16.

Kalarchian M, Marcus M, Wilson G, Labouvie E, Brolin R, LaMarca L . Binge eating among gastric bypass patients at long-term follow-up. Obes Surg. 2002; 12(2):270-5. DOI: 10.1381/096089202762552494. View

17.

Marek R, Ben-Porath Y, Ashton K, Heinberg L . Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory-2 restructured form (MMPI-2-RF) scale score differences in bariatric surgery candidates diagnosed with binge eating disorder versus BMI-matched controls. Int J Eat Disord. 2013; 47(3):315-9. DOI: 10.1002/eat.22194. View

18.

Pull C . Current psychological assessment practices in obesity surgery programs: what to assess and why. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2009; 23(1):30-6. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e328334c817. View

19.

De Panfilis C, Cero S, Torre M, Salvatore P, DallAglio E, Adorni A . Changes in body image disturbance in morbidly obese patients 1 year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Obes Surg. 2007; 17(6):792-9. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-007-9145-8. View

20.

Leombruni P, Piero A, Dosio D, Novelli A, Abbate-Daga G, Morino M . Psychological predictors of outcome in vertical banded gastroplasty: a 6 months prospective pilot study. Obes Surg. 2007; 17(7):941-8. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-007-9173-4. View