Psychosocial Issues and Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is associated with long-term weight loss, as well as short-term improvements in obesity-related medical comorbidities. However, a significant proportion of patients fail to lose sufficient weight, or experience significant weight regain. Although no robust predictors of response have been identified, pilot data that will be presented and reviewed suggest that surgery has profound effects on eating behaviors and psychosocial functioning, and that these factors may affect postoperative weight control. The present investigation capitalizes on the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) consortium to conduct an in-depth examination of the psychosocial aspects of surgery among a geographically, ethnically, and racially diverse sample of men and women undergoing bariatric surgery. This project unites experts in the areas of psychopathology, eating behaviors and quality of life to conduct a naturalistic study using state-of-the-art assessment tools; to document the relationships among psychosocial factors; and to examine psychosocial predictors of surgical outcomes.