Are Alcohol Use Disorders and Bariatric Surgery Associated? Perceptions Among Individuals Seeking Addiction Treatment

People who undergo bariatric surgery have a higher risk of alcohol use disorder. This can be explained by a mix of biological and psychosocial factors, with various theories for this suggested. After bariatric surgery, long-term follow-up by healthcare is recommended, focusing mainly on diet. Patient views on the association between alcohol use disorder and bariatric surgery are sparsely studied, as are patient perceptions of care needs. This study aimed to explore perceptions of patients with addiction problems on the associations between bariatric surgery and addiction. A further aim was to explore patients' perceptions on what kind of support would be useful to handle alcohol-related problems in connection with bariatric surgery. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals seeking treatment at an addiction clinic after bariatric surgery and inductively analyzed using applied thematic analysis. We identified four themes reflecting addiction problems and associations with bariatric surgery and one theme related to unmet care needs. The participants reported heightened vulnerability before surgery in terms of alcohol use and mental well-being. Alcohol problems could develop or worsen after bariatric surgery and were perceived to be associated with both biological and psychosocial aspects. Surgery follow-up did not occur or was not person-centered. Patients wanted supportive talks that encompassed difficulties, for example, alcohol use, related to their bariatric surgery. The results indicate that a holistic approach to alcohol-related problems after bariatric surgery and person-centered care could be beneficial to support patient recovery.