Weight Loss Surgery Linked to Increased Alcohol Use

A new study has linked bariatric weight loss surgery to an increased risk for disordered alcohol use.

Currently there are a variety of weight loss procedure options. Surgery may use bands or staples to create food intake restriction. The bands or staples are surgically placed near the top of the stomach to section off a small portion that is often called a stomach pouch. A small outlet, about the size of a pencil eraser, is left at the bottom of the stomach pouch. Since the outlet is small, food stays in the pouch longer and makes the patient feel full for a longer time.

In a new study, researchers analyzed data on 1945 adults who completed assessments before and after weight loss surgery between 2006 and 2011. Alcohol consumption was measured through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.

The researchers found that alcohol use did not increase from one year before to one year after weight loss surgery. However, alcohol consumption significantly increased during the second year post-surgery. Several pre-surgery factors were also independently linked to an increased risk for alcoholism, including being a smoker, male patient and younger.

The authors concluded that weight loss surgery may increase the risk for alcohol use disorders. However, additional research is necessary to further evaluate this potential association.

Alcohol abuse occurs when a person engages in excessive drinking that results in health or social problems. Alcohol may continue to be abused despite serious adverse health, personal, work-related and financial consequences. Alcohol abusers, however, may not fully lose control over the use of alcohol and progress to alcoholism. A person afflicted with alcohol dependence may experience alcohol withdrawal with symptoms such as anxiety attacks, confusion, insomnia, sweating, increased pulse rate and temperature, tremors or severe depression.

Most experts believe that it is possible to have a problem with alcohol, but not display all the characteristics of alcoholism. For instance, alcohol abuse does not necessarily involve alcohol dependence, which is the need for repeated doses of alcohol to maintain a certain feeling of well-being.

For more information about alcohol abuse or weight loss surgery, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Comments

[SB]

I think this is an interesting article. Could the people perhaps be trading in one adiction for another. Gastric surgery doesn't really address the issues of why people overate, just makes it difficult and/or dangerous for them to do so. Underlying issues such as depression, and low self esteem and probably quite prevalent in these people.

[km]

According to studies, foods, drugs and alcohol triggers the brains to response in a similar manner. Since overeating is also a form of addiction, people with weight problem that required them to undergo bariatric surgeries may have replaced their addiction of eating with other form of addiction such as alcohol or substance abuse after the surgery. Patients should definitely be counseled about the risks and benefits before getting bariatric surgeries.

[ks]

This is an interesting study. While alcoholism is a big concern in this country, I don’t know that these results really confirm anything. It’s possible that post surgery, patients have more confidence to go out to bars with friends or on dates which contributes to their alcohol intake. Especially since the results indicate that alcohol intake didn’t decrease until 2 years post-surgery, which could be explained by the fact that this is around the time they lost most of their excess weight. This isn’t necessarily an issue, as long as the alcohol intake is controlled.

[nh]

I read a case study a few weeks ago in the New England Journal of Medicine that involved a patient who had bariatric surgery that presented to the emergency room. In the end the patient was found to have increased alcohol use that lead to her being admitted to the hospital. As this article points out that bariatric surgery and alcoholism might have a link. I that in there are more studies like this that look into this relationship. Patients getting these surgeries probably are already at risk for depression or other psychological problems that can increase alcoholism risk so if there is a relationship hopefully support groups could be put in place.

[AF1]

I think one thing to consider after reading this is -why do people usually drink? In my past experiences and opinion, people usually use alcohol to cope with something, whether it be depression, anxiety, career/marriage problems, etc. I think self-image issues could very easily lead to a drinking problem. So perhaps it's not the fact that the surgery is causing one to drink, but these individuals that undergo this surgery have probably had image problems their whole life. If they were overweight enough to go through the risk of having surgery, I'm sure they already had underlying issues that could lead them down the road of alcohol abuse. I don't think the surgery itself plays a large part in this outcome. I'd say a lot of people have a hard time finding themselves again after such a significant change in their appearance and a change in the way they are treated by other people, or maybe they thought being thinner would bring them happiness and they resort to drinking after they aren't satisfied with their level of happiness even after becoming thin. I think there are a lot of factors to think about here, not just correlating surgery with alcohol abuse.

[ee]

This is an interesting article. I agree with @Melissa Nguyen’s comment. One would think that after finally losing weight through bariatric surgery that person would be happy in their body. Could it be they are having a hard time accepting or adapting to their new body that they need alcohol to help them overcome their new insecurities?

[GDC]

To the best of my knowledge, there is presently no official guideline as concerns the use of alcohol after having bariatric surgery. It may be of interest to you that, there are changes with respect to the absorption and metabolism of alcohol. In a bariatric patient, this is very significant at various stages postoperatively. Therefore it is advisable to stick to the following for a better outcome.
• Try avoiding drinking alcohol during the rapid periods of weight loss.
• In case you are tempted to drink alcohol, always remember that very small quantities of alcohol can cause intoxication and can subsequently lead to low blood glucose with damaging consequences such brain damage, liver cirrhosis etc.
• Do not drive or operate heavy equipment after drinking any amount of alcohol.
• Always make sure you take your bariatric vitamin and other mineral supplements as needed.

[JKD]

I agree with AM, it is very possible that these patients are replacing their addition to food with an addiction to alcohol. Another aspect could be that many of our social interaction are either over food or alcohol or both. These people may take up or increase their intake of alcohol to prevent them from going out to eat with friends; they can go out for drinks instead. Interesting to think about the consequences that could be out there because of the way we interact with each other.

[AM]

Patients who undergo bariatric surgery often suffer from a strong addiction to food. This correlation could be the result of a predisposition to addictions. I wonder if participants in this study were using alcohol to replace their addiction to food. Some great alternatives to help curb the desire for food or alcohol are yoga, acupuncture and meditation.

[Melissa Nguyen]

We have to remember that alcohol is considered a psychoactive drug that is commonly used recreationally. Although it is socially acceptable to have “a few drinks” we have to also remember that it is possible to become dependent on alcohol. There are over 8.1 million people in the United States who are alcoholics. Besides the negative impacts on your body (example your liver and immune system), it can impact your social relationships as well. Please talk to a doctor or mental health professional about ways to treat alcoholism for yourself or a loved one. Attending group therapy sessions and support groups may benefit. Visit http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/ for more information. There are also medications and alternative treatments available to help alcohol withdrawal symptoms as well. Please talk to your doctor and visit the natural standard for more information.

[MW]

This is a interesting study. It seems like to would be the opposite. The person might have a drinking problem when they are overweight and have lower self-estem. Many people resort to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to get over other problems. In these patients there big problem was being overweight and all the issues they carry associated with their weight. I suppose maybe they don't feel think themselves after the surgery so that might account for the increase in alcohol consumption. Either way I thought it was a very interesting study.

[LT]

This is a very interesting article. There are adverse effects to bariatric surgery. Alcoholism may be caused by many different factors. The study that the article referenced may need to be validated through the use of further clinical trials. It would also be good to know the types of patients that are undergoing these bariatric surgeries. Some psychological history may also be relevant in patients who are studied for problems with alcohol.

[Erica Marini]

Another interesting factor that linked to increased postoperative alcohol use disorder was undergoing the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure as opposed to the laparoscopic gastric banding procedure. There is apparently evidence that the RYGB procedure alters the kinetics of alcohol while the LAGB procedure is unlikely to cause the same changes. I wonder if this data will become a factor in decision-making for patients at risk for alcohol use disorders?