Diabetes UK: Weight loss surgery can lead to psychological distress

Thursday, 4 March 2010 12:00 AM

People who have gastric band surgery to lose weight are at risk of low self-esteem, relationship problems and being dissatisfied with their body image, according to new research being presented at the Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference (APC) today¹.

Researchers from the University of the West of England and Southmead Hospital, Bristol, followed 25 patients, aged from 30 to 58 years, and recorded their experience 12 months after receiving a post-laparoscopic gastric banding operation. 64 per cent of the participants had Type 2 diabetes.

Although the people who took part in the study reported significant health benefits such as improved blood glucose levels and lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, they also found that living with the gastric band had a strong, negative psychological impact on their daily lives. The majority reported that having a gastric band was as hard as having to diet and that losing the opportunity to eat as a coping strategy left them struggling to deal with distressing life events.

Lead researcher Dr Andrew Johnson from Southmead Hospital said: "Our findings show that having a gastric band fitted should not be seen as the easy option when it comes to losing weight. This operation has a strong psychological impact as well as a physical one and we found that regular psychological support is needed to help people cope with the realities of having the device fitted."

Simon O'Neill, Director of Care, Information and Advocacy Services at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: "Losing weight not only reduces your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes but also significantly improves management in those who have the condition. We always advise people wanting to lose weight to try to do so by following a healthy, balanced diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in fat, sugar and salt combined with physical activity. Weight loss surgery can be a way of losing significant amounts of weight for people who are obese. However, surgery does have serious associated risks and should only be considered if sustained attempts to lose weight through diet and lifestyle changes have been unsuccessful. This new research also shows that there might be psychological consequences to having the procedure and patients should be made aware of these when considering the surgery."

The NHS Information Centre recently released figures showing a 55 per cent increase in the number of people having weight-loss surgery, such as stomach stapling or having a gastric band fitted, between 2006/07 and 2008/09, from 1,950 to 4,220.

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For further media information, please contact Fabienne Jacquet or Maria Lam in the Diabetes UK Media Relations Team on 0207 424 1165 or email pressteam@diabetes.org.uk.

Or contact Rupi Gohlar or Huw Beale in the APC press room on 0151 239 6037 or 0151 239 6038

For urgent out of hours media enquiries, please call 07711 176 028.

Notes to editor:

1 Reality bites! Experiences one year post-laparoscopic gastric banding [LAGB] for people with and without Type 2 diabetes M Morris, S Jackson and AB Johnson. Psychology Department Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK

2 The Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference (APC) is taking place from 3 to 5 March 2010 at the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) in Liverpool. It is the UK's largest diabetes conference with over 3,000 healthcare professionals attending.

3 In the UK, there are currently 2.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes and it is estimated that up to half a million people have Type 2 diabetes but do not know it.

4 The Diabetes UK Careline (0845 120 2960) offers information and support on any aspect of managing diabetes. The line is a low cost number and opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (operates a translation service). Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number 24 hours a day.

5 Supporting our work to fund vital research into the care, treatment and hopefully a cure for diabetes as a Diabetes UK Supporting Member entitles you to a range of benefits including our bi-monthly magazine Balance, reliable information booklets on diabetes, our confidential Diabetes UK Careline, over 400 local Diabetes UK support groups, and access to an exclusive personalised Supporting Members Area on our website.

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