Higher levels of inflammation in the blood of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery predict worse weight reduction six months later, according to a study supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Published in Psychological Medicine and led by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, this is the first study to investigate the links between depression and inflammation in patients with obesity before and after bariatric surgery. The data revealed a significant link between depression and inflammation in obese patients before and after surgery, and it suggested that elevated inflammation, rather than melancholy, was responsible for inadequate weight reduction.
Lead author and Clinical Professor of Psychoneuroimmunology at IoPPN, King's College London, Valeria Mondelli, said, "Our study has important clinical implications as it identifies specific targets for future personalised interventions which could improve physical and mental health outcomes after bariatric surgery. For example, our data showing that increased inflammation predicts lower weight-loss after bariatric surgery suggests that personalised treatments involving approaches that lower inflammation could enable better outcomes after surgery.” The study investigated the differences in proteins released in the body during inflammation between obese patients with and without depression undergoing surgery.
