Gastric Bypass Surgery and Alcoholism

So, I read a very interesting article from the Associated Press that indicates that there is a 30 percent increase of alcohol abuse among people that have had gastric bypass surgery.  In one article, the LA Times indicated that one reason why this is the case is that alcohol affects people who have had gastric bypass surgery faster (they don't metabolize alcohol the same way they did pre-surgery).  An AP article (reprinted in the Deseret News) also states that people that are skinny are more social.  However, I think there is one big reason that hasn't been discussed:  our emotional lives don't change as a result of surgery.  Becoming skinny as a result of something like gastric bypass is a real blessing for some people, but it doesn't change the fact that for at least a portion of those overweight people, they are fat because they have emotional issues that they have chosen to deal with through food.  It is no different than a smoker or a drinker, and in my opinion, it makes perfect sense that when you take food away (remember, it isn't easy to eat a lot after gastric bypass surgery), something else will take its place. 

I think that is why it is vital that when losing weight, you treat it as an addiction, just like any other addiction.  Sure, you can stop cold turkey, but you still have to deal with the emotional underpinnings of why you are doing what you are doing.  The fact is, overeating is simply no different than over-drinking or doing drugs or smoking or any other addiction.  All of these activities are self-destructive, and self-destructive behaviors do not occur simply because you "like" it (even though you may have convinced yourself that this is the only reason you do it). 

If you are interested in the articles, click here for the LA Times story or here for the Deseret News story.