The impact of gastric sleeve surgery on the mental health of young people remains unchanged by substantial weight loss, according to a study reported in Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The researchers tracked mental health outcomes before and after bariatric surgery (gastric volume reduction) in all Swedish youth from 2007 to 2017.
At baseline, those who underwent surgery showed higher rates of mental health disorders compared with their peers. After the procedure, mental health challenges did not lessen; teens who had the operation continued to need more psychiatric medications than their non-surgical counterparts. There was also a marginally increased risk of developing alcohol dependence following surgery.
“Surgical treatment of obesity produces clear benefits for weight, glucose regulation, and blood pressure, but its effects on mental health are neutral—neither improving nor worsening after bariatric surgery”, stated Martin Neovius, a professor of clinical epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet.
Earlier expert commentary highlighted a separate issue regarding muscle growth in youth after surgical intervention, indicating that different physiological processes may be at play beyond weight loss and metabolic control.