The Dangers of Addiction Transference

Monday, 29 June 2009 14:46

One of the consequences of weight loss surgery that hasn't yet been studied extensively is the occurrence of addiction transference. This is the transfer from one addiction to another. In this case, many WLS patients have transferred their addiction from food to another vice, including shopping, gambling, and alcohol.

The exact percentage of WLS patients that experience addiction transference is unknown, but various experts have estimated it to be anything from 5-20%. Patients may struggle with their new lifestyle after surgery, and feel that they need something to replace the void that was filled by food. As a result, many patients find themselves in overwhelming debt, abusing drugs or alcohol, and more promiscuous than ever before.

Shopping

Because of the large amounts of weight that most patients lose, they must  “re-stock” their entire closets, as their clothing no longer fits them. As a result, after years of being unable to fit into “normal-sized” clothing, WLS patients could become addicted to buying clothes in their new size. What begins as a “reward” for reaching a certain weight loss milestone soon may have the same effect as smoking a cigarette or drinking several beers.

Shopping addicts cannot control the compulsion to buy and may branch out to purchasing other new items besides clothing. Shopping addicts get a “high” from buying almost anything- even if it is a blender when they already have one or books they know they'll never read.

Gambling

Some WLS patients miss the thrill that came from eating large amounts of food and seek to compensate through the rush that playing poker, blackjack, or other casino games may provide. Unfortunately, as with shopping, excessive gambling usually leads to large amounts of debt that the individual cannot pay back.

Gambling is a thrill-seeking behavior, which appeals to many people after they have gone through weight loss surgery because it gives them a high. Some also go hang-gliding or skydiving, eager to experience the rush that came with late-night fridge raids or fast-food binges.

Alcohol and Drug Use

After surgery, many WLS patients are able to feel more confident going out to nightclubs or bars because of the amount of weight they've lost. As a result, they may drink more then usual or begin to experiment with drugs. However, because WLS changes the digestion process, alcohol is not recommended as it goes through the system a lot faster and patients usually feel intoxicated at a more rapid rate. According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, a 2007 study from Stanford University reports that 70% of WLS patients who were given one glass of wine tested over the legal blood-alcohol limit and took longer to sober up than the control group, who were the same age and weight but had not had WLS.

Promiscuity

This is another thrill-seeking addiction that correlates with the newly acquired attention WLS patients receive from the opposite sex. For many, the years spent being obese also meant an inactive dating life. When a patient loses up to 100 pounds or more, they may begin to date around and become addicted to attention from potential lovers. This could lead to multiple partners and erratic dating patterns that are dissimilar to their behavior before weight loss surgery. If a person has been obese for most of their lives, including high school, they may also be more likely to be promiscuous, as they did not have a chance to develop their sexual identity.

Rehabilitation/Counseling

Many WLS patients believe that when they lose a large amount of excess weight, that everything will be perfect or “OK”. However, this is simply not the case. For many, the addiction to food relates to underlying emotional or psychological issues that need to be addressed.

Without proper psychological counseling before and after surgery, patients may react to the rapid changes their body is making in a negative way because they do not know how to develop and work through their thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner.  Support groups and routine individual appointments with a counselor will provide the continued reinforcement and encouragement a patient needs in order to be successful in their weight loss journey.