A review of psychosocial outcomes of surgery for morbid obesity

There is consistent evidence to support the notion that morbid obesity poses serious risks to physical health and has a substantial impact on psychosocial well-being. Researchers agree that bariatric surgery is currently the most viable option for successful weight loss and maintenance in the morbidly obese individual. The drastic, major weight loss and alleviation of medical risks that patients typically experience post-surgically are accompanied by psychosocial changes that appear to be equally remarkable. These psychosocial changes have yet to be studied as systematically or diligently as the physical changes and therefore remain to be fully understood. This paper (1) reviews the literature of psychosocial outcomes of obesity surgery for the past 36 years; (2) provides a critical assessment of the methodology utilized; and (3) suggests future research directions.