Weight Loss Surgery Linked to Alcohol Problems
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: June 28, 2012
People who receive the most popular weight-loss surgical procedure are at increased risk of developing symptoms of alcohol use disorders, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
The findings are the first to draw a clear link between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery and symptoms of alcohol use disorders and could have implications for patient screening before surgery, as well as clinical care after surgery. Alcohol use disorders include alcohol abuse and dependence, popularly known as alcoholism.
"Patients should be educated about the potential effect of bariatric surgery, in particular RYGB surgery, to increase the risk of alcohol use disorders," said lead author Wendy King, Ph.D., assistant professor in GSPH's Department of Epidemiology, who presented the results at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery .
King's study also found several patient characteristics that could help predict whether a patient is more likely to develop alcohol use disorders following surgery, including a lower sense of interpersonal support (i.e., having people to do things with), smoking, recreational drug use, consumption of alcohol at least two times per week, and prior alcohol use disorders.
The findings are the first to draw a clear link between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery and symptoms of alcohol use disorders and could have implications for patient screening before surgery, as well as clinical care after surgery. Alcohol use disorders include alcohol abuse and dependence, popularly known as alcoholism.
"Patients should be educated about the potential effect of bariatric surgery, in particular RYGB surgery, to increase the risk of alcohol use disorders," said lead author Wendy King, Ph.D., assistant professor in GSPH's Department of Epidemiology, who presented the results at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery .
King's study also found several patient characteristics that could help predict whether a patient is more likely to develop alcohol use disorders following surgery, including a lower sense of interpersonal support (i.e., having people to do things with), smoking, recreational drug use, consumption of alcohol at least two times per week, and prior alcohol use disorders.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.