Editor's Choice Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Article Date: 16 Oct 2012 - 0:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Weight Loss Surgery Boosts Risk For Substance Abuse

This report, published in Archives of Surgery, describes previous studies that relates bariatric weight loss surgery candidates to individuals addicted to other substances such as nicotine and alcohol. These candidates suffer from binge-eating disorder and display addictive personalities, therefore after their weight loss surgery (WLS), they may replace overeating with a different substance. Patients have been advised to explore these effects before undergoing surgery

Alexis Conason, Psy.D., of New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, and colleagues, examined survey responses from 155 patients (132 women) who underwent weight loss surgery, and signed up after an informative session at a bariatric surgery center.

The participants underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (100) or laparoscopic gastric band surgery (55). All patients answered questionnaires to evaluate eating behaviors and substance use before their operation, and at one, three, six, twelve, and 24 months following surgery.

Patients documented noteworthy increases in the amount of substance use (a combination of drug use, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking) 24 months after surgery. Specifically, the authors saw that participants reported a meaningful increase in the prevalence of substance use from the time of the surgery to 24 months after surgery. Also seen was significant increases from one, three, and six months to 24 months following their operation.

Furthermore, those who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) reported a meaningful jump in the frequency of alcohol use from the period before surgery to 24 months afterwards.

The authors concluded:

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Weight Loss Surgery Boosts Risk For Substance Abuse

REUTERS - People who had weight loss surgery reported greater alcohol use two years after their procedures, according to a U.S. study.

The researchers, whose findings appeared in the Archives of Surgery, said it's possible that some patients may turn to drinking if the surgery successfully stops their ability to overeat without addressing underlying issues.

In addition, the effect of certain stomach-shrinking procedures on alcohol tolerance may play a part.

"This is perhaps a risk," said Alexis Conason, who worked on the study at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.

"I don't think it should deter people from having surgery, but you should be cautious to monitor (alcohol use) after surgery," Conason told Reuters Health.

The study didn't show whether people were drinking in a dangerous way, and there was no clear increase in drug use or smoking after surgery.

Her team's study involved 155 people getting gastric bypass or gastric banding surgery, mostly women. Participants started the study with an average body mass index, or BMI, of 46 - equivalent of a 168 cm (five foot six inch) person weighing 129 kilograms (285 pounds).

Surgery is typically recommended for people with a BMI of at least 40, or at least 35 if they also have health problems such as diabetes or severe sleep apnea.

Alcohol use dropped immediately after surgery, from 61 percent of people who initially reported drinking to 20 percent at one month post-surgery. But by three months, drinking rates had started to creep back up.

And at two years out, people were drinking significantly more often than before their procedures.

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Weight loss surgery tied to increase in drinking: study

ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2012) Patients who undergo bariatric weight loss surgery may be at increased risk for substance use (drug use, alcohol use and cigarette smoking) following surgery, particularly among patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery who appear to be at increased risk for alcohol use following surgery, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Surgery, a JAMA Network publication.

"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 (BED) display addictive personalities similar to individuals addicted to substances," the authors write as background in the study. "Therefore, alcohol and drugs (including nicotine) are likely to substitute for overeating following WLS [weight loss surgery.]"

Alexis Conason, Psy.D., of New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, and colleagues, assessed questionnaire responses from 155 patients (132 women) who underwent weight loss surgery (WLS) and were recruited from an information session at a bariatric surgery center. Patients underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (n=100) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery (n=55). Each patient completed questionnaires to assess eating behaviors and substance use prior to the operation and at one, three, six, 12 and 24 months after surgery.

Overall, the authors found that patients reported an immediate decrease in frequency of substance use following WLS, but these improvements were not maintained by 3-month follow-up, and there was a significant increase in the frequency of substance use from the time of surgery to the 24-month follow-up.

Participants reported significant increases in the frequency of substance use (a composite of drug use, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking) 24 months following surgery. In particular, the authors found that patients reported a significant increase in the frequency of substance use from the time of surgery to 24 months after surgery, as well as significant increases from one, three, and six months to 24 months after surgery.

Additionally, patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) reported a significant increase in the frequency of alcohol use from the time before surgery to 24 months after surgery.

"Based on the present study, undergoing RYGB surgery appears to increase the risk for alcohol use following WLS," the authors conclude. "Risks and benefits should be weighted when recommending LRYGB surgery to patients who may be at increased risk of developing problems with alcohol after WLS, such as those with a personal or family history of alcohol abuse or dependence."

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Weight loss surgery may be associated with increased substance use following surgery

People who had weight loss surgery reported greater alcohol use two years after their procedures than in the weeks beforehand, in a new study.

"This is perhaps a risk. I don't think it should deter people from having surgery, but you should be cautious to monitor (alcohol use) after surgery," Alexis Conason, who worked on the study at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, told Reuters Health.

Researchers said it's possible some patients may turn to drinking if surgery successfully stops their ability to overeat without addressing their underlying issues. Or, the effects of certain types of stomach-shrinking procedures on alcohol tolerance may influence drinking habits.

Still, the new study can't show whether people were drinking in a dangerous way - and there was no clear increase in drug use or smoking after surgery.

"This does not mean that everyone who has gastric bypass surgery has problems with alcohol or becomes an alcoholic," said Conason.

Her team's study involved 155 people getting gastric bypass or gastric banding surgery, mostly women. Participants started the study with an average body mass index, or BMI, of 46 - equivalent to a five-foot, six-inch person who weighs 285 pounds.

Surgery is typically recommended for people with a BMI of at least 40, or at least 35 if they also have health problems such as diabetes or severe sleep apnea.

Alcohol use dropped immediately following surgery, from 61 percent of people who initially reported drinking to 20 percent at one month post-surgery.

But by three months, drinking rates had started to creep back up. And at two years out, people were drinking significantly more often than before their procedures, according to findings published Monday in the Archives of Surgery.

That was primarily the case for those who had gastric bypass surgery, not banding. On a scale from 0 to 10 of drinking frequency, where 0 represented never, 5 was sometimes and 10 always, gastric bypass patients reported an increase from 1.86 before surgery to 3.08 two years later.

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Weight loss surgery tied to increase in drinking

Obesity Control Center is the global leader in proven and safe weight loss surgery for long-lasting results, including gastric band (lap band), gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and gastric plication. Led by Dr. Ariel Ortiz and a team of Board Certified Surgeons, the Obesity Control Center has performed more than 10,000 weight loss surgeries and is recognized as an International Center of Excellence for its superior patient care standards.

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Based just minutes outside of San Diego, California, in Baja California, Mexico, Obesity Control Center is recognized worldwide as both a pioneer in the field of bariatric (weight loss) surgery and the unchallenged leader. Built and designed specifically for weight loss procedures, the Obesity Control Center helps change the lives of patients who struggle with constant weight gain and obesity.

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It's not uncommon for individuals with obesity to move from one diet to another, only to see their weight yo-yo back and forth and increase even higher, says Dr. Ariel Ortiz, the director of Obesity Control Center and Board Certified medical surgeon. Our center is a state-of-the-art facility that provides safe, effective weight loss solutions to those who feel they have no other options. We specialize in all the leading gastric procedures, and we are recognized for offering the highest levels of patient care and safety in the field.

The Obesity Control Center offers a wide range of the most common weight loss procedures, as well as plastic and cosmetic surgeries to further help patients achieve their desired transformations.

Gastric procedures offered by the Obesity Control Center include:

Gastric Band Surgery (also known as the Lap Band, Realize Band, adjustable gastric banding)

Dr. Ariel Ortiz is recognized as the leading expert on Lap Band surgery, having trained under the original designer of the Lap Band, Dr. Mitiku Belachew. Dr. Ortiz has also trained hundreds of surgeons around the world to perform the procedure safely and effectively. He has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's top surgeons and was also featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show for his expertise on childhood obesity.

The Obesity Control Center has been recognized as an SRC International Center of Excellence, which is awarded only to hospitals that meet extremely rigorous standards for patient care, safety, competency of staff and advanced equipment. This prestigious distinction is held by only 5% of hospitals in the United States.

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Obesity Control Center Leads Field in Weight Loss Surgeries

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