Psychological and social aspects of the surgical treatment of obesity.

New surgical procedures have revolutionized the treatment of morbid obesity (more than 100% overweight), a condition associated with serious medical complications and for which conservative treatment has been largely ineffective. These procedures, which are surprisingly safe, produce large weight losses and marked improvement in hypertension, diabetes, and other disorders influenced by obesity. Striking changes also occur in vocational and psychosocial functioning, including marital and sexual relations, in eating behavior, in food preferences, and in body image. The emotional state of patients during weight loss following surgery is far superior to that during attempts at weight reduction by other methods. The surgical procedures appear to produce a major biological change, perhaps lowering a body weight set point.