No matter how you slice it, there’s a psychological element when it comes to weight maintenance. You have to acknowledge that you have a problem. Only then can you take the necessary steps to become healthier. But all of your hard work is worthless if you replace your eating addiction with another craving; the need for alcohol!

A new study has found that alcoholism is a rapidly growing occurrence among those who have undergone weight loss surgery. It’s now estimated that these patients may have as much as a 30% likelihood of developing an alcohol addiction post-surgery.

Experts Disagree On New Addictions’ Frequency

Known as “addiction transfer,” this substitution typically develops due to patients’ poor coping skills following surgery. Often, these men and women are unable to properly deal with the depression, stress, and anxiety that can occur. As such, they may turn to alcohol, or something else, as they’re denied their previous access to food. For instance, patients may become addicted to gambling, shopping, sex or Internet use.

However, some medical experts believe that the likelihood of developing an addiction transfer may be overblown. “The problem does happen,” says Stephanie Sogg, a psychologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center. “But there is no evidence that it happens as frequently as the media suggests.” Sogg cites a published study in the journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.

The study focused on 70 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery and then filled out questionnaires. It was shown less than 6% experienced increased post-surgical alcohol use; 24% actually decreased their alcohol consumption. “A small number of people will develop problems with alcohol postoperatively, but the problem may be a little overblown,” says  James Mitchell, president and scientific director of the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute in Fargo, North Dakota.

Regardless, experts advise all post-surgical patients to be aware of their chances of developing alcoholism. They advise that those men and women who had emotional difficulties before surgery were at risk for these problems post-surgery, as well. They recommend that should these problems develop, patients should contact their local surgeon, physician or mental health professional as quickly as possible. And above all else, those patients considering undergoing bariatric surgery should not avoid the procedures.