It’s amazing how lap-band procedures connect with relief of anxiety disorders in the morbidly obese. A study just recently discovered how laparoscopic gastric banding not only lost weight and improved the physical health of the obese, but psychological health benefits were also noted. Results were presented at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego USA.

Andrew Johnson MD of the Southmead Hospital in Bristol UK notes that surgical treatments for weight loss, like those of laparoscopic gastric banding, is considered the most effective way to lose weight and to improve blood sugar on obese patients with diabetes. However, no in-depth study has been conducted as of yet to determine the psychological effects despite the popular usage, particularly as to how it affects anxiety in the morbidly obese.

Also known as the “Lap-Band” procedure, it’s a procedure that entails tightening of the stomach to make it smaller for food consumption by using a band with repeated adjustments.

About 21 women and 4 men from the age groups of 30 to 58 years were gathered in the study who were about to undergo the lap band procedure. All of them were classified, according to BMI, as morbidly obese. They underwent psychological testing before surgery, six months after, and a year after surgery. All these measured general anxiety, their quality of life, and social anxiety pertaining to how they looked and how they were perceived by the public.

Results were contrasting. If at pre-surgery their psychological scores were so low, they soared an all time high 6 and 12 months after. They reported better quality of life and total reduction of general anxiety along with social anxiety.

Though Johnson notes that the study presents clear evidence that psychological health improves along with physiological health, and the study was limited to the obese, it’s a clear showing too that looking better was indeed a good way to rid of social and general anxieties. The perception of looking good and feeling good outweighs the advantage; not only it diverts the attention, but the confidence shadows the fear and the anxiety within.