Weight Loss Surgery Increases the Risk of Alcohol Addiction

The number of people who undergo gastric bypass surgery annually is not in thousands but hundreds of thousands. No doubt obesity is a rising menace and the results of gastric surgery almost miraculous to behold.  Too good to be true? Well, it is just that.

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There is a side effect that plagues the beneficiaries of the gastric surgery and it is only now been proved. Alcoholism!

People have often complained of an increased intake of alcohol after undergoing these surgeries. For some time, these complaints were taken as individual problems but research has proved otherwise. The test, developed by the World Health Organization, identifies symptoms of alcoholism.

Roux-en-Y (RYGB) gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach and shortens the intestine, limiting food intake and the body's ability to absorb calories. This reduces weight but the same procedure is the culprit. Alcohol consumed by-passes the stomach and goes directly to the intestine and gets absorbed quickly and get intoxicated earlier than usual and hence the addiction for more of the rush.

There is also a factor of replacing one addiction with another; in this case alcohol with food.

So the question comes down to this, ‘Is it worth it?’ Isn’t it better to invest a bit of more time and physical effort, not to mention will power rather than going under the knife? Or may be try other alternative treatment?