BH-205: Bariatrics from bench to bedside: Translating the basic science of appetite regulation to clinical application

Abstract

Overeating in response to distressing emotions affects about 40% of pre-surgical bariatric candidates and has been cited as the most common reason for delay of surgery. Emotional eating also has been shown to impede weight loss in gastric banding patients at one year follow-up. Psychological explanations of emotional eating conceptualize the behavior as a way to cope with pressure and regulate emotional states. However, recent advances in the basic science of appetite regulation provide a more comprehensive understanding of the behavior as a bio-behavioral phenomenon, and offer direction for the development of clinical interventions.