Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss causes remission of food addiction in extreme obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypotheses that bariatric surgery-induced weight loss: induces remission of food addiction (FA), and normalizes other eating behaviors associated with FA.


METHODS
Forty-four obese subjects (BMI= 48 ± 8 kg/m(2) ) were studied before and after ∼20% weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (25 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 11 laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and eight sleeve gastrectomy). We assessed: FA (Yale Food Addiction Scale), food cravings (Food Craving Inventory), and restrictive, emotional and external eating behaviors (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire).


RESULTS
FA was identified in 32% of subjects before surgery. Compared with non-FA subjects, those with FA craved foods more frequently, and had higher scores for emotional and external eating behaviors (all P-values <0.01; all Cohen's d >0.8). Surgery-induced weight loss resulted in remission of FA in 93% of FA subjects; no new cases of FA developed after surgery. Surgery-induced weight loss decreased food cravings, and emotional and external eating behaviors in both groups (all P-values < 0.001; all Cohen's d ≥ 0.8). Restrictive eating behavior did not change in non-FA subjects but increased in FA subjects (P < 0.01; Cohen's d>1.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss induces remission of FA and improves several eating behaviors that are associated with FA.
Center for Human Nutrition and Atkins Center of Excellence in Obesity Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA.
Marta Yanina
MY
Pepino
Richard I
RI
Stein
J Christopher
JC
Eagon
Samuel
S
Klein
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D066249:Craving; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss