Can thinking about weight loss surgery indicate past psychiatric problems?

Recent research points to the fact that about two-thirds of people seeking weight-loss surgery have suffered from a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives. This brings up the question -- is thinking about and carrying through with weight-loss surgery indicative of more deeply embedded psychiatric problems?

For some, this is most likely true. Weight loss surgery for many could be a manifestation of some mental illness I suppose. This recent research used questionnaires to assess psychiatric disorders in 288 patients hoping to have weight-loss surgery.

The results? 66% of the surveyed subjects had a lifetime history of at least one psychiatric disorder -- and the most common disorder was a major depressive disorder. Further 38% had been diagnosed with such a disorder just recently. The kicker is that those with currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders centered in on binge eating behavior.