Bariatric surgery: psychological and psychiatric aspects

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is the only proven effective therapy for long-term control of morbid obesity. This surgery can be broadly divided into procedures that limit the stomach's capacity, that interfere with digestion or a combination of both the techniques. The best way to classify the obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity becomes a serious disease when it is morbid, that is, when the BMI exceeds 40 kg/m². The main indications for the bariatric surgery are individuals with a BMI > 40 or those with a BMI> 35 who also present any comorbidity. Psychological aspects should be evaluated, like if the individual is emotionally prepared for the surgery. Beyond, psychiatric contraindications for bariatric surgery are not well-established.

Bariatric surgery; morbid obesity; psychiatric aspects of obesity