WORLD / Health
Anxiety affects obesity surgery success
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-15 15:43
LOS ANGELES - Extremely obese people suffering from depression or anxiety
tend to lose less weight after obesity surgery than mentally healthy
people, researchers reported Thursday in a study that suggests such
patients could benefit from treatment beforehand.
People diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorders on average lost 81 pounds
six months after gastric bypass surgery compared to their counterparts
who shed 86 pounds. Although both groups lost significant weight after
surgery, people without mental health problems did slightly better.
"Patients with a lifetime history of mental health problems might benefit
from closer surveillance," said lead author Melissa Kalarchian of the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
The federally funded research was presented at a meeting of bariatric
surgeons in San Diego Thursday. Researchers plan to follow patients for
up to two years to determine if there's a weight difference over time.
Many hospitals and insurers require surgery candidates to go through a
psychological evaluation before obesity surgery to make sure they are
mentally fit for the operation and the lifestyle change afterward.
Depressed people aren't automatically disqualified for surgery, but those
who are suicidal or abusing drugs and alcohol are usually ruled out.
How depression and other mental health disorders are handled before
obesity surgery vary widely by medical center.
For example, surgery candidates at the University of California, San
Diego, go through a rigorous mental health evaluation first.
Those with serious problems are usually treated before surgery. That
could include antidepressants, psychotherapy or more family involvement,
said the center's director William Perry.
"The success of surgery is only as good as the willingness of a patient
to make a life change," Perry said.
In the new study, Pittsburgh researchers interviewed 207 surgery
candidates and found two-thirds had a history of depression, bipolar
disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome or panic attacks. The vast
majority were women with an average body-mass index of 51. A person with
a BMI of over 40 is considered morbidly obese.
After adjusting for age, gender and race, researchers compared weight
loss six months after surgery. Patients with a history of depression on
average weighed 322 pounds before surgery and 241 afterward. Those with
no mental health problems weighed 303 pounds before the operation and 217
pounds afterward.
Having a history of mental health problems should not prevent people from
getting obesity surgery, even though they may not lose quite as much
weight as mentally healthy people, said Dr. Philip Schauer, president of
the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.
Gastric bypass, or stomach-stapling surgery, is the most common obesity
operation performed in the United States with about 177,600 people
undergoing the procedure last year. Federal guidelines say a person
should be at least 100 pounds overweight and should have tried
traditional weight-loss means before choosing surgery.
Gastric bypass involves reducing the size of the stomach and bypassing
part of the small intestine, where digestion occurs. People eat less and
absorb fewer calories as a result.
Meg Phelps, a 48-year-old social worker from Pennsylvania, struggled with
major depression and low self-esteem for a decade. Often, she wouldn't go
out or even make eye contact with people.
Four years ago, Phelps had obesity surgery at the Geisinger Medical
Center in Danville, Pa. Beforehand, she had a medical evaluation and
attended several months of counseling for depression.
Phelps, who weighed 335 pounds, shed 120 pounds after the surgery and no
longer has to see a therapist. She even went back to college and got a
degree in social work last year.
"It helped me to take charge of my life," Phelps said of the operation.
Top World News
� Religious extremists in 3 faiths share views: report
� US: Russia offer cannot replace missile shield
� Abbas dissolves government
� Arab League to hold Mideast crisis talks
� Ahern elected as Irish PM for third term
Today's Top News
� More than 370 rescued from brick kiln slavery
� New paths to reach green goal
� Dynasty! Spurs win 4th NBA title
� Official: North Korea funds transferred
� BOCOG to probe child labor allegations
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Course, Learn mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment