Bariatric Surgery: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals

The number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery has more than doubled in the last two years, and it is anticipated that approximately 100,000 such procedures will be performed around the world this year. As this area of surgery has become increasingly accepted as a safe and effective treatment option for morbid obesity, scores of surgeons have begun to specialize in bariatric surgery. Bariatric Surgery will serve as a guide to the unique psychosocial issues that surround this procedure. Among the topics covered are pre-surgical psychological assessment, weight and eating changes after surgery, nutritional problems that may develop post-operation, cognitive behavior therapy, and post-operative treatment and support. This book provides mental health professionals with a basic overview of the types of procedures involved in bariatric surgery and the specific psychological impacts such operations can have on their patients, as well as serving as a valuable resource to the surgeons, nurses, doctors, and support staff who are involved in the medical treatment of obesity, but who may have little background in the psychosocial implications of their work.