The obesity surgery makes the person lose his/her body weight and this brings important changes or alterations to his/her life. Few are the people who can have conditions to adequately handle all these changes without the help of a psycho-therapist. Many times, obesity serves as a shield and escape valve for not solved conflicts. This way, psychological accompanying stops other problems from happening and teaches the obese person to face this new reality and have a new life.

The psychological evaluation aims to detect and treat patients who have or are potentially subject to serious psychological disturbances.
The contact with a psychologist is important for the orientation, information and support to the patient in preparing for the surgery. The patients usually get anxious to the first appointment, with great expectations, trying to get the “magical solution” they have always longed for.

The patient must be aware that the surgery, without a doubt, is the best instrument for the treatment of morbid obesity. The result, however, will depend on how each operated patient uses this instrument.
Many patients seek the surgery, still confused and anxious, in conflict between willingness and fear. Fear of the anesthesia, the pain, death, of not being able to lose weight and of the changes that will come.

These aspects must be worked on with the psychologist, adjusting the beliefs, expectations and anxiety to reality.

The psychological evaluation includes a personality study, of quality of life and pathological aspects such as: low self-esteem and isolation, hatred, own body denial (shame), mirror denial (no reflection), anxiety/compulsion (depression).

It is expected that from the moment the obese patient makes the decision to undergo the surgery and begins the preparation process, important changes in his/her behavior tend to occur, having self-esteem increase, giving more value to him/herself.