A new study from University of Utah Health reveals that losing weight after weight loss surgery does not necessarily improve mental health. Instead, reducing weight stigma has the greatest positive effect on mental well-being and healthy behaviors following the procedure.
The research found that decreasing societal stigma related to weight can profoundly impact health, regardless of a person’s body weight. Dr. Larissa McGarrity, the study’s lead author and a clinical psychologist at University of Utah Health, explained in an interview with ABC4.com that how patients are treated and how they internalize these experiences after surgery may influence their mental health more than the amount of weight they lose or their body mass index (BMI).
According to the study, weight loss surgery helps reduce weight stigma for many patients. However, those who continue to face weight stigma are at higher risk of developing disordered eating habits and other mental health issues.
Dr. McGarrity emphasized the importance of society’s attitude toward body size, shape, and weight. While the link between weight stigma and various mental and physical health problems is well known, its effects on patients undergoing bariatric surgery have been less studied.
The findings also suggest that mental health professionals should play a larger role in patient care after surgery, not just before it. Psychologists and psychiatrists can support patients with the lifelong behavior changes required by weight loss surgery, ongoing mental health challenges, and struggles with weight stigma and body image.
This study highlights the need for a broader approach to care that addresses the social and psychological aspects of weight loss surgery, not just the physical outcomes.
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