title: Changes in eating behaviour and meal pattern following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about eating behaviour and meal pattern subsequent to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), knowledge important for the nutritional care process. The objective of the study was to obtain basic information of how meal size, eating rate, meal frequency and eating behaviour change upon the RYGB surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Voluntary chosen meal size and eating rate were measured in a longitudinal, within subject, cohort study of 43 patients, 31 women and 12 men, age 42.6 (s.d. 9.7) years, body mass index (BMI) 44.5 (4.9) kg m(-2). Thirty-one non-obese subjects, 37.8 (13.6) years, BMI 23.7 (2.7) kg m(-2) served as a reference group. All subjects completed a meal pattern questionnaire and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six weeks postoperatively meal size was 42% of the preoperative meal size, (P<0.001). After 1 and 2 years, meal size increased but was still lower than preoperative size 57% (P<0.001) and 66% (P<0.001), respectively. Mean meal duration was constant before and after surgery. Mean eating rate measured as amount consumed food per minute was 45% of preoperative eating rate 6 weeks postoperatively (P<0.001). After 1 and 2 years, eating rate increased to 65% (P<0.001) and 72% (P<0.001), respectively, of preoperative rate. Number of meals per day increased from 4.9 (95% confidence interval, 4.4,5.4) preoperatively to 6 weeks: 5.2 (4.9,5.6), (not significant), 1 year 5.8 (5.5,6.1), (P=0.003), and 2 years 5.4 (5.1,5.7), (not significant). Emotional and uncontrolled eating were significantly decreased postoperatively, (both P<0.001 at all-time points), while cognitive restraint was only transiently increased 6 weeks postoperatively (P=0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subsequent to RYGB, patients display markedly changed eating behaviour and meal patterns, which may lead to sustained weight loss.
authors: Department of Gastrosurgical Research and Education, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. anna.laurenius@vgregion.se
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Laurenius
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Larsson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bueter
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Melanson
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Bosaeus
authors: H Bertéus
authors: HB
authors: Forslund
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Lönroth
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Fändriks
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Olbers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004377:Dumping Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss