Explaining the role of binge eating behaviour in weight loss post bariatric surgery

The current study aimed to examine the role of binge eating (BE) in explaining weight loss in patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) for severe obesity. Participants were 49 patients (13 males and 36 females) who completed questionnaires two weeks prior and three and six months after their operation. Predictor measures of weight loss included pre and postoperative BE and changes in BE following surgery. A decrease in BE as a consequence of having surgery was able to significantly predict postoperative weight loss. Many surgical services currently screen patients for BE at baseline to identify those most suitable for surgery. This study suggests that this process may be redundant as the results indicate that it is not the presence of BE pre- or post-operatively which are predictive of treatment-induced weight loss, but whether patients’ BE behaviours decrease or persist in response to surgery. Future research therefore should seek to identify predictors of decreased BE following surgery in order to enhance candidate selection and improve the efficacy of this form of obesity management.

► We examine the role of binge eating in surgical weight loss.
► Weight loss surgery may allow a decrease in binge eating behaviour.
► A decrease in binge eating following surgery aids postoperative weight loss.