Behaviors and mental health

Successful and sustained weight loss after surgery depends on being able to change what and how you eat and how much you move your body. Meeting your health and weight goals after weight-loss surgery is more likely if you are in good mental health and ready to follow your treatment plan. Your healthcare team will screen you for any mental health or behavioral factors that might affect weight-loss success. You and your team will try to address any problems when deciding whether you're ready for surgery.

Your healthcare team will talk with you about the following:

• Motivation. Are you motivated to accept lifestyle changes, set goals and learn about healthy nutrition? Your healthcare team may track your ability to follow recommended changes to your diet and exercise routine.
• Weight-loss history. Patterns in weight loss and weight gain can help your healthcare team understand challenges for you and recommend tips for postsurgical plans.
• Eating behaviors. Irregular eating behaviors or eating disorders may lead to obesity. These include binge eating, nighttime eating and unplanned grazing between meals. Some eating disorders are related to other mental health conditions.
• Mood disorders. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or other mood disorders are linked to obesity. These conditions may make it hard for people to manage their weight. Also, people with untreated mood disorders can find it harder to stick with new diet and exercise habits after surgery.
• Alcohol and drug use. Problems with alcohol and drug use are linked with poor weight loss and continued substance use issues after surgery. Weight-loss surgery may not be an option for people who have problems with substance use.
• Smoking. If you smoke cigarettes, you may have a higher risk of infection and other problems after weight-loss surgery.
• Suicide risk. There is a higher risk of suicide among people who have had weight-loss surgery. The risk is higher among people with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, schizophrenia or other disorders.