The sole purpose of bariatric surgery is to lose weight. Weight loss can be usually achieved by reducing the size of the stomach by either removing a portion of the stomach with either biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch or sleeve gastrectomy or with an implanted device called gastric banding. Gastric bypass surgery is also a method that involves restriction and re-routing the small intestines to a small stomach pouch.
Studies proved that these procedures can significantly reduce long-term weight loss. Due to this, patients have recovered from several diseases like diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Research has shown that most people who are overweight experience depression and also other mental health problems. Patients with these problems who want to consider bariatric surgery are needed to have a complete mental evaluation before the surgery. But, the history of depression may not prevent the surgery from taking place.
Bariatric patients who suffer from depression can experience health problems and quality of life improvements when compared to non-depressed patients. Use of antidepressants by patients who had depression decreased it by about 20 percent one year after the surgery and remain at that level after three years of follow-up.
Anxiety and depression are common among people with chronic conditions like type-2 diabetes and obesity and these conditions can sometimes interfere with treatment.