Exploring the prevalence and symptom presentation of food addiction among Norwegian bariatric surgery patients: associations with depression, dysregulated eating, and postoperative weight loss

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Pathological eating and addictive processes are linked to obesity. Food addiction (FA) involves hedonic eating of highly palatable foods, accompanied by addictive symptoms like craving, loss-of-control (LOC) eating, and withdrawal. The main objectives of this study were to assess FA prevalence and symptoms in bariatric surgery candidates, and its relationship with depression, dysregulated eating, and 1- year postoperative weight loss (WL). Data from 69 bariatric surgery patients (74% female, 26% male, ) were analysed. Self-report measures including Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) 2.0, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Repetitive Eating Questionnaire [Rep(eat)-Q] and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered pre-surgery and at 1-year follow-up. The mean preoperative YFAS symptom score was 2.2. (SD = 2.59). 16% of the sample met YFAS diagnostic criteria for FA. Top reported FA criteria were “substance taken in larger amount than intended” (33%), “persisted desire or repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit” (29%), and “use in physically hazardous situations” (23%). The YFAS symptom scores correlated significantly with the frequency of LOC binge eating, depression and repetitive eating scores, but showed no correlation with age or BMI. Preoperative YFAS symptom scores did not significantly predict % WL at 1-year follow-up. Our findings align with previous research, indicating that preoperative FA symptoms is unrelated to preoperative BMI and total %WL, but linked to eating pathology, such as LOC binge eating and grazing, as well as depression in bariatric surgery candidates. Pathological eating and addictive behaviors are linked to obesity. This study looked at food addiction (FA) in people preparing for bariatric surgery and how it relates to depression, eating habits, and weight loss a year after surgery. Researchers studied 69 patients using surveys to measure FA, eating behaviors, and mental health before surgery and one year later. Key findings include: In conclusion, FA symptoms before surgery are associated with problematic eating behaviors and depression but do not influence the amount of weight lost after surgery. The prevalence of a food addiction diagnosis in the bariatric candidate sample was 16%. Preoperative food addiction symptoms were significantly associated with preoperative grazing, binge eating, and depression. Preoperative food addiction symptoms did not predict 1- year postoperative weight loss.