Weight loss surgery increases suicide risk in patients, study reveals

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Weight loss surgery is the most efficient way to help obese people shed pounds and while it can certainly aid them achieve optimal health, a new study shows that suicide attempts and self-inflicted harm have increased in patients after they had bariatric surgery.

Eureka Alert reports that based on a study published online by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Surgery, mental health issues such as suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempts, are common in patients who are morbidly obese and bariatric surgery candidates. However, there is no explanation yet as to whether these behaviors are diminished or provoked by surgery.

Lead study Dr. Junaid A. Bhatti from the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Canada provides different reasons as to how bariatric surgery and suicide risk are associated and it include metabolism of alcohol right after surgery; postoperative-induced stress and anxiety in patients; surgery as replacement for substance misuse caused by food; and aftermath neurohormonal effects triggered by surgery.

"Findings from this study advocate a better understanding of these and other theories through future research of potential mechanisms of self-harm in patients undergoing bariatric surgery,” Dr. Bhatti adds.

The team did a 3-year analysis on more than 8,000 patients before and after they undergone weight loss surgery, Reuters adds. Most of them had gastric bypass, a type of bariatric surgery which reduces stomach capacity to help remove excess pounds.

The researchers noted that more than 150 patients checked in for self-inflicted injuries, accounting for about one percent of the participants. Although relatively small, the researchers stated that the risk increased by 54 percent after surgery as compared to previous rates.

Dr. Amir Ghaferi, the editorial accompaniment author of the study and a bariatric surgery expert from the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Healthcare System, suggests long-term behavioral care should be incorporated in the post-surgery follow-up of patients. He adds that the study should encourage physicians to target patients at risk of mental health problems for improved aftercare.

In the US, about six percent are considered as morbidly obese and bariatric surgery is what most experts believe to be the best solution as it has a success rate of 60 to 80 percent when compared to diet and exercise alone, The Medical Daily writes. Although previous studies have linked weight loss with positive influence on mental health, Dr. Bhatti believes undergoing weight loss surgery does the opposite.

The team concluded that the permanent body changes, stress related to diet or lifestyle changes, and unmet weight loss expectations could have increased mental health disorder risks. Further studies will be conducted to establish a direct link and to reduce the risks in patients.