URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — After almost a decade of research, a U of I professor has a warning for people who are at a higher risk for alcohol abuse.

Food science professor Yanina Pepino studied how woman who’ve had weight loss surgery react to drinking compared to those with no surgery. She found there is a difference in how the body processes alcohol after the procedure. And, it makes these women more susceptible to abuse.

“Almost one in five of the patients who undergo these surgeries, 5 to 7 years after this surgery, have a significant increase in their risk to develop alcohol problems. And so, we wanted to understand why,” Pepino said. “When people drink after having this surgery, they get drunk within 5 to 10 minutes after drinking compared to somebody who will take them at least half an hour in an empty stomach.”

Pepino says those who’ve had these surgeries also don’t feel the sedative effects of alcohol. They only experience quick highs of energy — which could also cause them to have a higher risk for abuse.