Addictions After WLS

[chimboree26 24]

I would like to know if anyone has heard about addiction transfer (AT) after having weight loss surgery (WLS). I've been hearing and reading about some folks who were addicted to food prior to WLS, and now post-op, they have become addicted to other things (alcohol, drugs, shopping, smoking, sex, etc.). From what I've read, it doesn't happen to many, but it is something to think about. I'm sure this is where the psych eval would definitely come in to play to help identify those who may be at risk for this. I guess the key would be to replace the food addiction w/something positive (i.e., walking, knitting, chewing gum, etc.).

Have you heard about this?

[Morsaille 4]

I know a couple of banded drinkers who smoke and shop when they didn't before. I can sympathize with the shopping... If I were a size 10 again...

The only new addiction I have picked up is gardening. I even dream about it. It is about as expensive as food, but so much healthier (exception: sunburn).

IMO, AT is very real, but can be headed off with head-work and planning.

[Wheetsin 714]

Yep, ad nauseum. (I was |-| close to being a psychologist, decided against, but went ahead with the schooling anyway).

A good psychologist will definitely be looking for addictive tendencies and will likely start to recommend alternatives or ways to try and supress the behaviors.

It's also called "addiction hopping." One if the biggest problems is that the new addiction is either more damaging than the eating addiction (rugs, alcohol, etc.) or cannot be sustained for long periods of time, which can end you up right back where you started.

Unfortunately this happens a lot in people who lose the weight on their own. They swap their food addiction for, say, an addiction to exercise and instead of eating 6000 calories a day, they're working out for 3 and 4 hours. Think about it. Who could really sustain that long term, that wasn't otherwise motivated to do so? Not many!

[chimboree26 24]

Yep, ad nauseum. (I was |-| close to being a psychologist, decided against, but went ahead with the schooling anyway).

quote]

You too??? I am currently in grad school for the same thing...just taking a little break...kinda burned out. I'm working on a dual Master's in Theology and Counseling...eventually becoming a Christian psychologist...but plans are starting to change. Anyhow...I thought this was a very interesting topic.

[Wheetsin 714]

Yep, MS in Clinical. Never thought too much of it from the career perspective, but did it because it interested me. Then I started thinking about it - I don't want to do therapy, I don't want to research, I don't want to teach... hmm, why the heck am I doing this? :fish:

Now working on MS IPT (subset of human performance). The good news is that even though different topics, they're very closely related. :cool: