Alcohol Consumption After Bariatric Surgery

University of Liege

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Bariatric Surgery; Obesity; Alcohol Drinking

Treatments: Procedure: Bariatric surgery

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06194175

2023-043 (CHU de Liège)

Details and patient eligibility

About

A large body of studies indicate an increase in alcohol use disorder (AUD) rates after bariatric surgery. However, little information exists on the evolution of other drinking patterns after surgery and the psychological predictors of problematic drinking postoperatively. The identification of these factors is necessary for the implementation of prevention strategies regarding postoperative problematic alcohol use. The aim of this research is to examine the evolution of various drinking patterns after bariatric surgery as well as the psychological factors associated with AUD and an increase in postoperative alcohol consumption.

Full description

Obesity affects 15.9% of the Belgian population and remains a difficult disease to treat with traditional weight loss interventions. Its high prevalence and the negative consequences it entails make it a public health concern. Bariatric surgery is associated with long-term weight loss and an improvement in obesity-related comorbidities. However, despite its success in achieving significant and lasting weight loss, numerous studies raise the emergence of unpleasant psychosocial problems after the operation, including an increase of regular alcohol consumption and prevalence of AUD. Some of these studies are longitudinal and include large samples. For example, in a prospective multicenter study, King et al., (2017) found that more than 20% of patients with a bariatric surgery present symptoms of AUD within five years after surgery. Moreover, some studies suggest that, among patients with postoperative AUD, some had never suffered from alcohol problems before surgery.

Given the severe negative consequences of AUD for the individuals who suffer from it, their family and the society, better understanding the factors involved in postoperative alcohol use problems is necessary. However, little is known about predictors of post-bariatric surgery AUD. Known risk factors are: male gender, smoking, regular alcohol consumption before surgery, younger age, recreational drug use, lower sense of belonging and ADHD symptoms. Information is lacking about the psychological risk factors for postoperative AUD and regarding the evolution of problematic drinking patterns other than AUD after surgery.

Given the previously cited gaps in the scientific literature, the present research's aims are to study the evolution of different drinking patterns after bariatric surgery as well as the psychological factors associated with AUD and increased alcohol consumption postoperatively.

Enrollment: 350 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being 18 years or older at the time of surgery
• Having a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40 or a BMI greater than or equal to 35 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity
• Having a scheduled surgery date
• Fluency in French speaking
• Being able to complete the questionnaires, i.e. have access to a computer or a smartphone

Exclusion criteria

• Being a minor at the time of the operation
• Having difficulty reading or understanding French.
• Not having access to a computer or a smartphone to answer the questionnaires

Trial design

350 participants in 1 patient group

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery

Description:

350 adults (1) suffering from obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40, or a BMI greater than or equal to 35 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity; (2) and whose candidacy for bariatric surgery has been accepted (i.e. who have obtained an operation date). Participants are recruited from four hospitals practicing bariatric surgery in Belgium.

Treatment:

Procedure: Bariatric surgery