A Review of Psychosocial Risk Factors Among Transgender Patients Seeking Bariatric Surgery

As nearly one third of transgender individuals in the USA are obese, more transgender patients may pursue bariatric surgery as a means of sustaining weight loss. Transgender individuals, like bariatric surgery patients, have high rates of mood pathology, substance use, abuse, and self-harm behaviors. However, there is no research on transgender bariatric surgery candidates. The aim of this review is to elucidate potential psychosocial risk factors, including sex hormone management, which may impact surgical clearance, presurgical psychosocial assessment, and treatment recommendations.