Psychosocial aspects of obesity and obesity surgery

Surgeons and mental health professionals find a wide range of psychosocial functioning in extremely obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery Most of these individuals have essentially normal psychological status. A significant minority, however, suffer from depression, binge eating, trauma, and other emotional complications that may require treatment before or after bariatric surgery A structured behavioral assessment, conducted by a mental health professional and registered dietician, can readily identify those individuals who are most likely to require adjunct counseling.