The Authors’ Own Words: Alcohol Use Patterns and Alcohol Use Disorders among Young Adult, Ethnically Diverse Bariatric Surgery Patients

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Alcohol Use Patterns and Alcohol Use Disorders among Young Adult, Ethnically Diverse Bariatric Surgery Patients

Christine E. Spadola, PhD, LMHC; Eric F. Wagner, PhD; Veronica H. Accornero, PhD; Denise C. Vidot, PhD; Nestor de la Cruz-Munoz, MD, FACS; & Sarah E. Messiah, PhD, MPH

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 1, 2017

“Problematic alcohol use after weight loss surgery (WLS) has been documented in the literature, as well as heightened sensitivity to alcohol post-WLS. For the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this article documented alcohol and problematic alcohol use among young adult, predominantly racial/ethnic minority bariatric surgery patients. Results reveal a relatively high rate of drinking to intoxication and binge drinking, especially considering heightened sensitivity to alcohol that often results after weight loss surgery. Findings suggest that in order to more adequately assess problematic alcohol use among WLS patients, future measures of alcohol use should consider the potential for an increase in alcohol sensitivity and assess for number of times the respondent drank to intoxication, in addition to quantifying alcohol consumption. Future implications also suggest that researchers should consider lowering the criterion for binge drinking when assessing problematic alcohol use among WLS patients. Additionally, more investigations are warranted to examine the long-term development of problematic alcohol use post-WLS, and to explore factors surrounding alcohol use that might be unique to young adult and racial/ethnic minority WLS patients. Problematic alcohol use after weight loss surgery (WLS) has been documented in the literature, as well as heightened sensitivity to alcohol post-WLS. For the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this article documented alcohol and problematic alcohol use among young adult, predominantly racial/ethnic minority bariatric surgery patients. Results reveal a relatively high rate of drinking to intoxication and binge drinking, especially considering heightened sensitivity to alcohol that often results after weight loss surgery. Findings suggest that in order to more adequately assess problematic alcohol use among WLS patients, future measures of alcohol use should consider the potential for an increase in alcohol sensitivity and assess for number of times the respondent drank to intoxication, in addition to quantifying alcohol consumption. Future implications also suggest that researchers should consider lowering the criterion for binge drinking when assessing problematic alcohol use among WLS patients. Additionally, more investigations are warranted to examine the long-term development of problematic alcohol use post-WLS, and to explore factors surrounding alcohol use that might be unique to young adult and racial/ethnic minority WLS patients.”