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Find a DoctorWeight-loss Surgery Can Help Depression and Anxiety
Changes that come into your life after weight-loss surgery are profound. At Manatee Weight Loss Center in Manatee County, FL, young bariatric patient Gianna Soussan lost 128 pounds with minimally invasive robotic sleeve gastrectomy.
Healing Potential of Minimally Invasive Weight-Loss Surgery
Bariatric weight-loss surgery, such as laparoscopic gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, involves smaller incisions and shorter recovery times compared to traditional open surgeries. By altering the digestive system anatomy, these procedures jumpstart weight loss and often lead to improvements in overall health and well-being.
Even 20 extra pounds can place extra pressure on the heart, brain, internal organs and blood circulation. Everything inside and out – including your blood and skin – can be severely affected by being overweight and morbidly obese.
In Gianna’s case, under 30 years old and inactive, she’d already accumulated other unhealthy conditions along the way to obesity. After her gastric sleeve bariatric surgery, though, Gianna says she slowly recovered, and no longer suffers the frustrating side effects of:
- Anxiety and depression
- Prediabetes
- Hypothyroidism (slow thyroid)
- Ulcerative colitis
- Sleep problems
- Migraine
How bariatric surgery affects the thyroid
Losing an average of 80-100 pounds through weight-loss surgery can help resolve conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. A lesser-known benefit of losing that much body fat? Improving your own thyroid function by promoting metabolic health and balanced hormones.
Studies show that bariatric surgery can lead to significant improvements in thyroid function by increasing the efficiency of digestion and metabolism, and the rate at which you burn calories. Bariatric procedures can also help stabilize thyroid function to enhance wellness. Metabolic surgery can complement traditional thyroid treatments too.
Weight-loss surgery may improve mental health
Benefits of bariatric surgery can extend beyond weight management, offering relief for conditions that may be intensified by living with obesity.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified mental health outcomes from 1,251 weight-loss studies. Evidence shows that bariatric surgery is associated with significant improvement in anxiety, depression and eating disorders among the studies.
Simply lifting the physical limitations of moving an extra 100 pounds around can help patients overcome feelings of despair and hopelessness. By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of obesity, bariatric surgery may offer a more holistic approach to combating depression.
As a weight-loss tool, bariatric surgery works by reducing appetite and stomach size, making overeating difficult and uncomfortable. Data shows that depressive symptoms are significantly improved after surgery within a two-year follow-up period.
Weight-loss surgery can cause raw emotions
Bariatric procedures can significantly reduce stress and physical discomforts, regardless of age and body mass index (BMI), according to the NIH. But there are many changes to adapt to as well.
Tension and stress can commonly develop amidst the transitions of your post-surgery life too. You’ll have to adapt to strict eating habits and physical activities, shifting family and partner dynamics, new exercise goals and other behavioral changes.
It’s a new life, but keep in mind: Anxiety is triggered differently by everyone, whether you have weight-loss surgery or not. The benefits of bariatric surgery, as a weight-loss tool, work by reducing your appetite and stomach size, making overeating uncomfortable.
Are you a candidate for weight-loss surgery?
Waist sizes are categorized into two categories: healthy and unhealthy.
Waist circumference is a simpler, rough approximation of measuring overweight and obesity.
- Using a tape measure, hold the waistline circumference above the hips and below the rib cage.
For women, it’s considered unhealthy to have a waist size above 35 inches. For men, a waist size of 40 inches or more is considered unhealthy. BMI and your Manatee Weight Loss Center team can help you calculate more closely and figure out your next steps.
Commit to consistent exercise and lighter meals
Success story Gianna says she felt determined to succeed with healthier lifestyle changes in the months leading up to her gastric sleeve surgery. She had emotional evaluations and visited therapists, learned about daily nutrition and portion control, low-impact exercise, body-image – and being good to herself.
“Everything I learned from my weight-loss team has now become a part of my lifestyle,” says Gianna. “I was preparing for both the physical and mental aspects of having surgery. I suggest finding a good therapist and searching for your support community of family and friends.”
Finally, Gianna says, “Victories can still be mundane — such as sitting comfortably with my legs crossed, having more space between my tummy and the wheel of my car. My thighs no longer chafe when I walk in shorts — and shopping for normal-sized clothing.”
Manatee Weight Loss Center’s team of weight-loss professionals has the resources to answer any questions you have about robotic bariatric surgery and can patiently walk you through the next steps.
Members of your bariatric care team may include doctors, nurses, therapist, nutritionist, pharmacist and others. Compassionate providers can also help you determine which weight-loss procedure is right for you.
Eligible for weight-loss surgery?
To lose weight at Manatee Weight Loss Center, fill out a patient interest form or call 941-254-4957.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if bariatric surgery is right for you.
