Depression

Excessive weight gain is often a symptom of an underlying emotional dysfunction. Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, unsatisfactory interpersonal relationships, and poor self-esteem can result in excessive eating and subsequently unwanted weight gain.

The objective of diet, exercise and behavior modification, pharmacologic therapies and weight loss surgery in morbidly obese patients is not only the reduction of their BMI, but also the improvement or resolution of the concomitant psychological and social restrictions these patients face.  Overweight or obese individuals often experience social stigmatization and discrimination in employment and academic situations, as well as activities of daily living, like shopping, traveling, and restaurant dining.

Patients who have undergone LAGB surgery, have reported an enhanced quality of life (QOL).^16,17

Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery has been found to significantly improve patient's QOL. One hundred and seventy-nine patients who had LAGB surgery lost a mean percent excess body weight of 45.7% (+/-17.1) during the first year and saw major improvements in their depression and a remarkable decline in their medication usage. Likewise, another study found that after 4 years, the rate of cure/improvement of self-esteem was 45%/39%. Weight loss following LAGB surgery was associated with significant improvements in depression, appearance evaluation and health-related QOL in a study of 50 patients with diabetes.^8,17,19

Relevant Links:
Physician Resources—Depression
Standards of Care—Depression