The food craving questionnaire-trait in a bariatric surgery seeking population and ability to predict post-surgery weight loss at six months

Food cravings have been understudied in bariatric surgery patients and the Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait has not been validated in this population. Reliability and validity of the FCQ-T were examined and a regression analysis was run to determine whether or not preoperative scores on individual subscales of the instrument could predict weight loss at 6 months. The FCQ-T demonstrated excellent internal consistency in bariatric surgery-seeking patients, and individual subscales measuring emotion and mood were correlated with other measures of depression and anxiety. Endorsement of binge eating or emotional eating behaviors during a clinical interview was correlated with similar subscales on the FCQ-T. Higher scores on the subscale ‘cues that may trigger food cravings’ were associated with greater weight loss at 6 months post-surgery and higher scores on the subscale ‘guilt from cravings and/or giving into them’ was associated with less weight loss. Management of external cues may predict successful outcomes while emotional impact of cravings may indicate the need for further intervention to help manage specific food craving traits.

► The FCQ-T demonstrated excellent internal consistency in bariatric surgery-seeking patients.
► FCQ-T emotion and mood subscales were correlated with other measures of depression and anxiety.
► Presurgical binge eating or emotional eating was correlated with similar subscales on the FCQ-T.
► Higher scores on ‘cues that may trigger food cravings’ predicted greater weight loss at 6 months.
► Higher scores on ‘guilt from cravings and giving into them’ predicted less weight loss at 6 months.