Binge-eating disorders are as problematic as mood-related disorders, plaguing over 17% of study participants.
By conducting an analysis of 68 studies focusing on severely obese people, researchers have found that obesity surgery may alleviate depression-related mental health conditions. What is also worth noting is the fact that of all the study participants, almost 25% suffered from binge-eating disorders, depression or other mood-related disorders.
The reason why so many obese patients suffer from these conditions stems from their own view of their body image, as well as the social implications of being obese. This eventually leads to an accumulation of stress that gradually wears down the patient, causing mental disorders alongside it.
Fortunately, even if suffering from depression or other illnesses, weight loss after bariatric surgery, a treatment consisting of altering the digestive tract in order to limit food intake, was not affected in any way. Patients were able to continue their weight loss programs, as well as getting a massive boost in confidence.
This analysis focused on how people with poorer mental health conditions were able to abide by diet regulations and other forms of treatments that precede bariatric surgery. But the results were rather surprising because patients’ response to this surgery did not fare worse in any way in comparison to mentally-stable patients.
Because the mental health implications of obesity surgery, patients are required to undergo mental health tests conducted by specialized doctors from this field of psychiatry. In some cases, for instance, if the patient is found to be severely suicidal, surgery may become banned towards the patient.
But in the case of depression, people that fear how this mental health test may remove the ability to undergo obesity surgery should rest easy. Besides improving their mental health, this surgery will also be accompanied by depression treatments both before and after the procedure is complete, depending on the depression’s severity.
The researchers who conducted this experiment claim that by showing the general public how depression and other mental health conditions are relatively common in obesity patients, just like diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses, people will no longer suffer from a self-imposed isolation. Knowing that you are not the only one in this situation may give you a massive morale boost, and in the case of binge-eating disorders, may help you overcome the arduous task of sticking to a severely limited diet plan.
Because obesity surgery may alleviate depression-related mental health conditions, people that once feared how they will be deemed unable to undergo bariatric surgery may approach this option wholeheartedly. In addition, knowing that besides the physical improvements gained by losing weight with the help of this surgery, your psyche will reap benefits as well, it might make this option even more enticing than before.
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