Psychosocial effects of gastric reduction surgery for obesity.

A sample of 44 patients who had undergone gastric reduction surgery for severe obesity responded to a questionnaire asking about psychosocial changes after the surgery and about their reactions to the weight loss and to previous weight reduction methods. Subjects reported substantial weight losses accompanied by reduced food intake and normalization of eating patterns; increases in physical and social activities; more positive relationships with others, including sexual functioning; and more positive self-perceptions in a number of areas. All were glad that they had had the operation and saw it as more successful than other methods of weight control. In light of the social pressures encouraging people to lose weight and the general lack of success of nonsurgical weight reduction methods, it is likely that this procedure will be increasingly widely used, although its long-term effects have not been studied.