Mixed
Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) improves depressive, anxiety, and non-normative eating symptoms, as well as attention, compared to nonsurgical controls, though evidence certainty is low to very low.
If you have obesity and struggle with depression, anxiety, or disordered eating, metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) may help improve these symptoms more than nonsurgical treatments. However, the evidence is not yet high-quality, and you should be aware that MBS might slightly increase the risk of substance use disorders or suicide in the long term (>2 years). Regular mental health monitoring is essential after surgery.
Compared to nonsurgical conditions, MBS may improve depression, anxiety, non- normative eating, and attention, but slightly increase suicides and substance use disorders. There was low to very low certainty in most outcomes, therefore additional high- quality studies are needed to strengthen the evidence base.
Why this rating
The paper explicitly rates the evidence certainty as 'low to very low' for most outcomes.
Source
Psychiatric and Cognitive Functioning After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Emma A. van Reekum et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2025
DOI 10.1111/obr.13968
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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