Disordered eating and weight loss after bariatric surgery

PURPOSES: Aberrant eating patterns are frequently observed in bariatric patients. Since bariatric operations produce alterations in food transit and in appetite/satiety balance, postoperative eating behavior changes are not surprising. METHODS: 88 consecutive obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP, 50 cases) and Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG, 38 cases) were retrospectively evaluated. Beside anthropometric data measurement, eating behavior was assessed by direct interview prior to the operation and at the first and second postoperative years: patients were considered as eating disordered (ED) when referred habitual occurrence of binge eating and nibbling/grazing. Weight loss was assessed by percent of BMI loss (% Δ BMI). Together with standard follow-up, patients received additional behavioral/dietetic support upon request. RESULTS: Postoperative ED patients showed lower % Δ BMI than the not ED ones at one (30.7% ± 8,5 vs. 26.8% ± 10, p < 0.02) and two (32% ± 10.3 vs. 27.4% ± 12.9, p < 0.05) years after operation, the follow-up rate being 82% and 76%, respectively, without differences between RYGBP and SG group. After RYGBP, an improvement of eating behavior was observed (ED patients from 75 to 28% at 1 year and to 27% at 2 years), while no changes were observed after SG. In SG patients, the number of additional behavioral/dietetic support sessions throughout the follow-up was positively associated with % Δ BMI. DISCUSSION: The postoperative normalization of eating pattern has a role in weight loss after bariatric surgery. Behavioral/dietetic support is indicated in all SG patient, while after RYGBP is useful only when weight loss is unsatisfactory.