A comprehensive study conducted by Lund University and Karolinska Institutet has shed new light on the long-term effects of bariatric surgery in young people.
While this surgery is effective for significant and lasting weight loss, it surprisingly does not lead to improvements in mental health. Furthermore, the study indicates an increased risk of early alcohol-related problems in these individuals.
This research is notable for its scale and duration, encompassing all young individuals in Sweden who underwent bariatric surgery between 2007 and 2017. The use of register data allowed for a broad analysis and comparison with other societal groups.
A concerning finding is that these young people were already more likely to have received treatment and medication for mental health issues five years before undergoing the surgery.
Kajsa Järvholm, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Lund University, points out that while mental health problems generally increase between ages 15 and 21, this particular group showed a faster increase in the need for treatment compared to their peers.
Post-surgery, the pattern persisted. These young individuals continued to require more mental health treatment than their peers, despite the surgery’s beneficial effects on weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Martin Neovius, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet, notes that while obesity surgery doesn’t worsen mental health, it also doesn’t bring about an improvement.
An additional, alarming finding from the study is a rise in dependency diagnoses, particularly related to alcohol, in the post-surgery group.
This increase was observed both in comparison to their pre-surgery state and to the general population of young people.
Published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, this study stands as the largest long-term research project worldwide examining young people who have undergone obesity surgery.
Its findings highlight the need for a more holistic approach in treating obesity in young people, taking into account not just physical but also mental health aspects.
This research underscores the importance of comprehensive care and support for young individuals undergoing such life-changing medical procedures.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about the keto diet for weight loss: Pros and cons, and how to drink water to lose weight.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies about best cheeses to improve diabetes and lose weight, and results showing gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery: a real story.
The research findings can be found in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
