Gastric bypass surgeries could up alcohol dependency risk

London: Researchers have found that patients who undergo bypass operations could be at greater risk of drunkenness and alcohol dependency.

Bariatric or obesity surgery, where patients' stomachs are radically reduced in size, also changes the way the body processes alcohol, they said.

Drinking after a surgical procedure can result in drunkenness within minutes of swallowing. The surgery may also affect a patient's body chemistry, making the drinking more rewarding and satisfying, which can make dependency more likely, the Independent reported.

Animal studies have found a significant increase in alcohol uptake after surgery.

Anecdotal evidence in men and women who had undergone stomach surgery set alarm bells ringing.