A new study from University of Utah Health suggests that the most important benefit of weight-loss surgery may not be the number on the scale, but the reduction in weight stigma.
Researchers surveyed nearly 150 people who had undergone bariatric surgery and found that lower experiences of weight-based shame and blame were strongly tied to improvements in mental health, eating behaviors and overall quality of life. In contrast, actual weight loss (as measured by BMI) had little correlation with outcomes like depression, anxiety or disordered eating.
“The cumulative effect of stigma and discrimination actually contributes to a large part of the physical and mental health problems that we disproportionately see for patients with obesity,” said lead author Larissa McGarrity, PhD, a clinical psychologist at University of Utah Health.
While most patients reported a significant drop in weight stigma after surgery, about 40% continued to experience it — often from health care providers, workplaces or social circles. This group faced higher risks of mental health challenges and were more likely to return to disordered eating patterns.
“Weight loss is helpful for a whole lot of things,” McGarrity said. “But that change in weight stigma may actually be the more powerful thing for mental health and quality of life over time.”
The findings, published in Health Psychology, challenge the assumption that weight loss alone leads to improved well-being. They also highlight the urgent need to reduce bias, especially in clinical settings, so that all patients can fully benefit from treatment.
Funding information was not disclosed in the press release or APA PsycNet listing.