Psychological characteristics and associations with weight outcomes two years after gastric bypass surgery: Postoperative eating disorder symptoms are associated with weight loss outcomes

This study investigated symptoms of eating disorder, depression, and anxiety among Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients two years after surgery, and the relationship between these characteristics and weight loss. Respondents completed assessment questionnaires including Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), Harvard Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and questions related specifically to binge eating. Forty-five patients (8 men, 37 women) out of 65 (67%) responded. Scores were significant higher on impulse regulation, interoceptive awareness, ineffectiveness, maturity fears and interpersonal distrust in comparison with a Danish norm group (p ≤ 0.05). The weight losses obtained after surgery varied from 12 to 60% of the starting weights. Binge eating and ineffectiveness were found to significantly correlate with weight loss variations after surgery (p ≤ 0.05). The results of this study indicate that knowledge of the potential influence of eating disorder symptoms on outcomes after bariatric surgery is needed in order to optimize weight outcomes following surgery.

► We investigate eating disorder symptoms in post-operative gastric bypass patients.
► Considerable weight loss variations were reported two years after surgery.
► Eating disorders symptoms were significantly related with weight loss variations.