Bariatric Surgery Stands

Bariatric Surgery Stands No Chance against an Untreated Food Addiction

By Amy Teeple

Published on October 22, 2007

Twenty-eight-year-old Dee Quinn* was sick of weighing almost 500 pounds. Knowing she was morbidly obese, she had tried NutriSystem®, OPTIFAST® products, and numerous other weight loss treatments. Nothing seemed to work, so finally she turned to gastric-bypass surgery. By Dee's thirtieth birthday, she was half the size she had been just a year-and-a-half earlier, but the weight loss didn't have the effect that she wanted. She was still unhappy.

Dee is now 35 and is much closer to her pre-surgery weight. Refusing to step on a scale over the last few years, Dee is unsure of how much weight she has gained back, but fears it may be most of it. "I don't want to know how far back I have slid since the surgery," she states.

Reality of Food Addiction

A recent topic of debate, food addiction is now viewed by many scientists as a disorder as real as a drug or alcohol addiction. Although most people's weight problems are not caused by an addiction, some people, like Dee Quinn, seem to gain weight because they are addicted to food.

Some people try to dismiss food addiction as a lack of willpower. While lack of willpower, poor exercise habits, metabolism, and genetics are the major causes of most weight issues, food addiction is real and has the same characteristics of other addictions.

Addiction or dependence can be defined as the compulsive reliance on a behavior or substance by an individual. Just as the need for a drink is part of an alcoholic's life, the extraordinary need for control over food is a very real part of a food addict's life.

Filling a Void

Like other addictions, food addiction can be triggered by depression, an individual's desire to fill some type of emotional void, or the need to be able to have control over some part of his or her life.

Living in an abusive household, Dee found much-needed solace in food. She confides, "I think I learned pretty early on that I wasn't going to be nurtured, so the way I nurtured myself was with food." That reliance on food as a source of both comfort and control carried into Dee's adult life as a mechanism to avoid past hurts and to deal with life's daily struggles.

Trading One Addiction for Another

Unlike Dee, who continued to find her comfort in food, some people seem to free themselves from their addictions to food only to find themselves with new addictions. Addiction transfer is a phenomenon that has become associated with patients of bariatric surgery.

These patients understand that they can no longer turn to food after gastric bypass or other weight loss surgery, but they may be unaware that they have an addictive personality and unconsciously develop another addiction.

New Addictions – What's Your Pleasure?

Conservative estimates state that 5 percent of bariatric surgery patients experience an addiction transfer, replacing their dependence on food with another addiction. These new addictions can manifest themselves in the form of:

• alcoholism
• compulsive shopping
• drug dependency
• excessive gambling
• increased or uncharacteristic promiscuity.

Many times patients who experience addiction transfer don't realize it at first. They suddenly find themselves with 200 pairs of shoes and the desire to buy more, even if the creditors are calling. Or they may find that they prefer the company of a bottle of Jack Daniel's over their kids. What might have started as a "reward" for losing weight or just a new pastime can quickly turn into an addictive habit for people who have not addressed the underlying issues that triggered the original food addiction.

Treating What's Feeding the Addiction

Whether a food addict transfers his or her addiction to another substance or behavior or just keeps the addiction to food is not the issue. In most cases, some form of addictive behavior will remain after bariatric surgery if the patient does not address the issues that led to the original addiction.

"It's not about the food," Dee states. "It's about control or whatever buzz-word you want to put on it. I think with any addiction, you have to figure out what need you are trying to fill. Determine what isn't being resolved."

Unhappy, obese individuals may see weight loss surgery as an answer to their problems. They believe that their lives will become easier if they lose the weight. However, many psychologists believe that without therapy, the addictive behaviors could remain or even become more harmful. As the excitement of losing weight begins to wears off, the underlying unhappiness is still there, and an individual will still try to find some way to fill the void.

Not everyone can afford to see a private counselor, and even those who can afford it may not find the level of support and acceptance that they need from one-on-one counseling. Addiction can create feelings of worthlessness and isolation. Because of these reasons, support/recovery groups have become very powerful mechanisms for dealing with addictions.

Addiction Support Groups

There are various support groups for individuals who are struggling with food addiction or who have transferred their addiction to another substance or behavior. Some support groups include:
• Food Addicts Anonymous (F.A.A.)
• Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (F.A.)
• Overeaters Anonymous (O.A.)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
• Debtors Anonymous (D.A.)
• Gamblers Anonymous (G.A.)
• Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.)
• Sex Addicts Anonymous (S.A.A.)

Continuation of Dee's Journey

As for Dee, she still refuses to get on a scale. However, she is now in therapy to deal with the issues that have contributed to her dependence on food as a means of security. Also, for the last two months she has been following the Weight Watchers program and is starting to work exercise back into her life.

Despite her relapse, Dee has no regrets about having undergone gastric bypass surgery. She confesses, "I really think that I would be dead if I hadn't had it...truly.” However, she adds a warning: "To do it without counseling built in, as I did, is stupid because you aren't addressing the issues. Your issues with food are still going to be there whether you are physically capable of eating them or not."

* Name changed to protect privacy

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Keyword Tags: bariatric surgery, weight loss, gastric bypass surgery, obesity

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Comments

1

Does anyone know of a doctor or accredidated medical study out there about addiction transfer in post-op bariatric patients?

Ashley
about 2 years ago

2

All this doom and glom will not put me off having this procedure.I really ned it.

Sandra Wilson
about 2 years ago

3

My wife thinks I still issues with food .I have had been banded about 5mos ago (54lbs. ago). I still have very bad food habits and it is effecting my 19 and 1/2 year marriage. I could lose my family over this which up sets me greatly. Im meeting my doctor to discuss this issue. I guess Im looking for advise on how to deal with situation.

dk
over 2 years ago

4

Reading all of this has made me worried. I am on the waiting list for bariatic surgery but I am not losing any weight at the moment at all. I know that I am comfort eating and I know that I am addicted to food and have an addictive nature. I'm wondering if I should still go ahead with the surgery. I have spent my whole life feeling guilty about food. I was hoping that the surgery would mean that I wouldn't have to think about food apart from what I would eat that day. Also I'm not keen on many protien foods and that worries me too. Does anyone have any advice

Maria k
over 2 years ago

5

Hello,
I am 45 and have been in A.A. for 25 years, its saved my life. Yet I just quit smoking 3 months ago. Now as of today I started Food Addicts. Wow, alot of stuff. Anyone else done this please e-mail me, I feel somewhat frustrated. I am 5;3 and 145 lbs. My ideal weight is 123.For As much as I work out I feel I am not getting enough fuel in my body? Please e-mail and help me if you would. I would like to help out anyone that I can on here too. We Are All in this together. I am also very obsessive and compulsive about almost everything ,except shopping!!!
Thanks for reading this
Have an awsome day!

Catherine S.
almost 3 years ago

6

I had bariatric surgery about 3 years ago and lost over 150 pounds. I would've never considered myself a food addict prior to surgery - I just thought I ate bad things and needed to eat smaller portions. Within days/weeks of my surgery, I came to the painful realization that I am most definitely an addict. I crave food when I am not even close to physically hungry and cannot stop obsessing about it until I get my fix - just like a crack addict. FOOD is my crack. I hide it, I lie about it, I spend too much money on it, my thoughts are consumed by it, and I feel horribly guilty afterward . . . but I still do it, day after day.

My personal struggle has brought me to the conclusion that many people seeking bariatric surgery are probably also food addicts, but may not realize it yet. Don't get me wrong - bariatric surgery is the best thing I could've done for my health and I would do it all over again in a HEARTBEAT. I simply suggest that anyone considering surgery also seek out therapy in order to deal with their (possible) food addiction and hopefully avoid any addiction transference BEFORE it gets out of hand.

Thankfully, I have only gained back about 15 pounds so far, but I mostly attribute that to the type of surgery I had (BPD/DS - much different than Gastric Bypass or Lap Band). I know that without therapy to properly address my food addiction, I am on a path to gaining even more.

ds
almost 3 years ago

7

I really thought the lap band would be the answer to help me feel like a normal person. I lost 60 pounds and gained back 30...I need to find a therapist to help me stop this yoyo path I am on..I just want to feel normal.

jo
almost 3 years ago

8

I am now an alcohlic. Great huh? I just cannot wait until the kids are asleep and I can have a drink. Which is worse? Being 346 lbs or being 160 lbs and having to have that night cap?

Leanna
almost 3 years ago

9

I had lap band surgery 2 years ago, and have gained back all of the weight. The band is still in and may need to come out. I have been considering revision surgery to bypass, but know I can have the same result. I am sober in AA for several decades, am in bankruptcy (lifelong money-credit addiction) and have been in and out of OA for many years. I've also been in therapy for many years and was hospitalized for bulimia 25 years ago. So......I don't seem to be able to break the addictive cycle and am very frustrated.

nc
about 3 years ago

10

hi i had the gastric bypass almost a yr ago its been a long road but it has done me so good im really grateful
my fear is..... my sister is big an she has just been told she is not allowed the operation she has sleep problems she has been dignosied wiv this problem she saw someone at the hospital an they have wrote an said no
she is so distrot that im scared wot she will do
wot can we do to change their minds

amanda smart
over 3 years ago

11

I too believe I'm a transfer addict. I lost 90 pounds using medications my doctor prescribed me. I have always felt that I cheated off those pounds because I didn't really have to work for it. I quickly picked up smoking, but still have a strong food addiction. I've maintained my weight loss, but only by punishing myself spending hours and hours in the gym. I feel guilty for every little bite I take and when the mood strikes I will go on a binge. I'm technically only 15 pounds overweight for my height, but I fear if I don't do something about my food addiction, it will only be a matter of years before I gain all the weight back.

Laurie
over 3 years ago

12

I'm retired and just turned 62 and don't want to wait until medicare kicks in at 65. I don't want to have another heart attack. 25 years ago I tried the hypnosis route. Every time I feel hungry other than mealtime, I will feel an urge to exercise and not eat. My hypnotist failed to put me under and took me to the head of a university hospital psych dept. with no luck. They said I could probably be put under using drugs but refused to do it. Bummer

Do you think I could transfer my food addiction to exercise? I was a bit of a body builder in college and enjoyed exercise. I have a weight machine and a Bowflex 7 treadmill. When my wife died I took to food and now I can't dig myself out of my hole. I need to go from 300 to 130 or 140, and there are worse things than being obsessive about being buff.

Don
almost 4 years ago

13

I had my WLS just over two months ago. Unfortunately for me my stomach seems to be able to tolerate most of the same foods. Eggs, sugar, mayo etc do not bother me although I do eat a whole lot less than before surgery. My problem is that my doctor is unhappy with the amount of weight I have lost to date. After his telling me that everything seemed to go downhill for me and I began to be able to tolerate more food. Is my stomach stretching already? My other point is that although there are support groups for Bariatric patients in my area I need a psychologist specializing in eating disorders and the only one I found seems to be all booked.

I love that I have lost weight but I miss food so much and when I cook I still have not figured out yet how to cook just enough. My refrigerator is full of leftovers.

What should I do about all of this? I do not want the time, money and effort before surgery to be a waste of time after surgery.

Debra
about 4 years ago

14

I'm looking for a legitimate Financial Institution that will give low or no interest loans for Bartriatric Surgery. After 1 year of going through a local hospital program they finally called me to say my insurance doesn't cover this surgery. Let me know if you know of any.

Karen
about 4 years ago

15

I can say I transferred my addiction to shopping until I ran out of money, men until I met my new husband and then alcohol until I found AA. AA has saved my life but being 6 years out from WLS, I can eat A LOT more than I right after WLS and I've gone back to food. I joined Weight Watchers a year and a half ago and took off the 30 lbs I put back on then gained back 10. It's a constant battle and I'm actually looking at getting an OA group started in my area. I'm truly an addict and need to deal with that. Best of luck to all.

Beth
over 4 years ago

16

I had gastric bypass about 4 mths ago and have lost about 60 pounds, I don't believe i have a food addiction but i do fear i may get a eating disorder, after i eat or drink anything that has any fat or sugar even if its a small amount i have a panic attack about it even if i eat 4 pieces of grapefruit instead of 3. I really don't sleep that much since the surgery and all i do is worry about failing from the surgery

ashlynn
over 4 years ago

17

It is absolutely possible for a person who has had gastric bypass surgery to regain a significant amount (or even all) of the weight they lose. Gastric bypass surgery is *not* a 'magic bullet' treatment for weight loss, and poor eating habits combined with lack of exercise will still cause weight gain in post-bariatric patients. If you only want bypass surgery if it is foolproof, you may want to investigate the procedure further before proceeding. Congratulations on the success you've had so far though, dropping nearly 70 pounds is no mean feat. Keep it up!

Aaron Poehler
over 4 years ago

18

I am considering gastric bypass surgery, but am a little confused about the story I just read. The woman weighed 500 lbs., lost about half her weight and then said she didn't know how much weight she had gained back. i didn't know after gastric bypass surgery that it was possible (for whatever reason) to gain a lot of the weight back? I've been overweight since i was 4 yrs. old, always the heaviest person in my whole school, as a child and teen, and have been on every diet none to man. I am 56 now, have Type 2 Diabetes (not surprised!) and weigh 314 (down from 382. I lost that from cutting out flour and sugar and walking, after i found out i was Diabetic. I did good for a year then now have started cheating and know I can't stop at "314..or I never will see any grandchildren. I only want to have the bypass surgery if it is a guarantee that it is pretty foolproof. I will do everything the dr. tells me to do..But i still don't understand how it is possible with that type of surgery to gain a lot of the weight back? Am I missing something here? Thanks for any answers, I appreciate any help!

nancy fox
over 4 years ago

19

Justen - I will echo what Kris said - check to find you local AA group. Just typing "Indianapolis alcoholics anonymous" into Google or some other search engine should point you in the right direction. Also, some bariatric surgeons have support groups - see if you can get involved in one of those programs. Good luck!

Michelle - check with your surgeon for a support group for gastric bypass patients. You will most likely find people going through the same issues.

Amy Teeple
almost 5 years ago

20

To Justin: I had issues with both food and alcohol; in that order.
You need to join in an AA group where you live. There are underlying issues that you are not facing. Good luck.

Kris
almost 5 years ago

21

I had gastric bypass on January 18th and am really being forced to deal with these issues, despite 18 months of eating disorder therapy prior to surgery. My main problem now is that unlike a regular diet, you CAN'T cheat. It's as though food became the object of my love affair and that lover has moved on and left me alone. I'm mourning the loss of a good friend, but am looking forward to a future where food is merely fuel for a body that feels good.

Michelle
almost 5 years ago

22

After reading this I have figured out that I am a transferred addict. I have been for the last 6mths. I really don't tolerate food at all and this is my revision which has lead me to drink. Almost everynight I enjoy to drink. I am looking for some assistance to get this under control as I feel that I can't do it myself. If you have suggestions I would appreciate it. I live in Indianapolis, IN. Thank you, Justen

Justen DeHart
almost 5 years ago







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