Food Addiction in Bariatric Surgery Candidates: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for food addiction (FA) in bariatric surgery candidates. We assessed BMI, FA (Yale Food Addiction Scale), quality of life (Quality Of Life, Obesity and Dietetics), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and binge eating (Binge Eating Scale) in 188 obese patients. The most prevalent addiction criteria were persistent desire to control food consumption (93.1%), continuing to eat certain foods despite problems (40.4%), and tolerance (38.8%); current prevalence of FA was 16.5%. Patients with (vs. without) FA were more often single and had lower physical, psycho-social, and sexual quality of life and higher depression and binge eating. Systematic screening for and treatment of FA symptoms before obesity surgery is critical because FA symptoms are prevalent and associated with poorer psychosocial outcome.