Does a Mental Health History Affect Weight Loss Surgery Results
A 2026 study looked at whether having a mental health condition before weight loss surgery affected how much weight patients lost afterwards. It found that people with a mental health history and those without one achieved comparable weight loss, as well as similar improvements in metabolic markers, over two years.
The Study Followed Nearly 1,850 Patients Over Two Years
Researchers drew on electronic health records from one region in Denmark, covering all public weight loss surgeries performed between 2012 and 2021. The study included 1,846 patients and tracked them from one year before their surgery to two years after. Patients were grouped by whether they had a prior mental health diagnosis or were taking medication for a mental health condition.
Weight Loss Was Comparable Between Both Groups at Two Years
About 1 in 5 patients had a diagnosed mental health condition, with mood and anxiety disorders being the most common. Weight loss outcomes were comparable between the two groups, and markers such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels improved similarly at two years. Starting body weight and the type of surgery each person had were also similar across both groups.
The Study Has Limits That Are Worth Understanding
By the two year mark, around 30 percent of participants in both groups had missing weight data, which means the full picture of outcomes may not be captured. The study also did not include formal psychological assessments before surgery, and it did not measure psychosocial outcomes such as quality of life or mental health after surgery. The researchers noted that further studies are needed to assess longer term results.
About this research: The impact of psychiatric comorbidity on weight loss after bariatric surgery a 2 year register based follow up cohort study, Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 2026. Read the study summary
More about weight loss surgery at LapSurgery Australia is on our weight loss surgery consultation page. If you are considering your options, call us on (03) 9760 2777 or request an appointment through our website.