Eating disturbances and outcome of gastric bypass surgery: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: We examined how the outcome of gastric bypass surgery (GBP) was effected by the interaction between presurgery eating disturbance status and length of time since surgery.

Method: Subjects were recruited from a list of patients who received GBP in the last 3 years. Twenty-seven patients 20.8 +/- 11.0 months postsurgery were interviewed.

Results: Both current eating disturbance status and weight regain were predicted by the interaction between presurgical eating disturbance status and length of time since surgery. The significant time period in this interaction was 2 years or more postsurgery.

Discussion: Patients with a presurgical eating disorder may experience a short-term improvement in their eating disorder following GBP that erodes on or after 2 years and is related to weight regain. Methods for improving surgical outcome in this population are discussed.