Nearly half of adolescents who undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery screen positively for alcohol use disorder, symptoms of alcohol-related harm, or alcohol-related problems eight years after surgery, according to a study published online 17 November in the Annals of Surgery.

Dr Gretchen White (PhD), from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US, and colleagues examined alcohol use, alcohol-related harm and alcohol-related problems preoperatively and up to eight years following metabolic and bariatric surgery (2007 to 2011) in 217 adolescents.