Severe obese people to undergo surgery to lose weight, losing an average of suicide risk in the years after the surgery, says a new study finds.

The report in the American Journal of Medicine, adds evidence that bariatric surgery patients to lose weight have an increased risk of suicide than the general population.

But the reasons for the model, the researchers say, is still unknown.

Several studies have shown that, although the absolute rate of suicide in patients who received bariatric surgery is quite low, yet above the norm for the general population.

The benefits of weight loss surgery are well documented. Procedures that modify the digestive system of food intake and absorption of nutrients is limited, can help overweight people shed serious weight significantly. You can even problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Recent research suggests that the death among the residents of Pennsylvania, obesity surgery, examined over a longer period than previous studies – up to 10 years after the operation.

The 16 683, the obesity surgery between 1995 and 2004, 31 committed suicide discovered in late 2006, researchers found. Figures translate suicide rate of almost 14 per 10,000 people per year and five per 10,000 women per year.

These figures are significantly higher than the rate of suicide attempts among Pennsylvanians that 35 to 64, ten, in the same period. Of all the men of the country, the suicide rate in 2005 was 2.5 per 10,000, while the share of women was 0.6 per 10,000.

Overall, 30 percent of suicides occurred in two procedures surgery, and 70 percent occurred within three years.

For now, the reasons for the higher risk of suicide are unclear, according to researcher Dr. Hilary A. Tindle, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His team-study based on the death certificate was not possible to verify the details surrounding the suicide of the individual.

But the study does not mean that a suicide operation bariatric surgery – which is meant for patients, Reuters Health, said in an e-mail.

Instead, he said, it is possible that some obesity surgery patients with depression or other mental health problems before the surgery – or later developed – and in turn increase their risk of suicide in general.

Depression is common among obese adults, including those who have had surgery to lose weight, to vote Tindle and his colleagues. Research and analysis of the candidates showed that two-thirds at some point in their lives, so-called “Axis I” disorders suffered by a group of mental health problems to depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse, including.

Bariatric surgery candidates not tested whether the deal is right for them, and that includes an assessment of mental health. But history of depression or other mental disorders are not necessarily against a person, the action.

Instead, he said Tindle, a team of health professionals – determined to try whether a person is medically mental operation prepared, if not an attempt to object to address underlying problems – including the surgeon, psychologist, nutritionist, sports medicine often.

Another research team Tindle must understand why bariatric surgery patients at increased risk for suicide. If connected before the intervention with higher risk features, so that some suicides could be prevented by better monitoring and treatment, researchers say.

It is also unclear if suicide risk depends on how much weight a person loses after surgery. Possible E-Gate group Tindle all existing psychiatric symptoms may escalate as patients disappointing results of weight loss – or if the overall quality of life improved as they had hoped.

After Tindle, the results indicate a general need for more long-term monitoring of patients after surgery.

Obesity surgery centers in the U.S. after the monitoring operation recommended a six-month follow-up.

But “most suicides among men in this study in the postoperative period it lands occurred,” said Tindle.

Approximately 225 000 Americans will now receive a surgery every year, according to the American Association metabolic obesity surgery. Given this data, “said Tindle, it is increasingly important factors in understanding the increased risk of suicidal patients to understand.