[Does bariatric surgery affect addiction to overeating and eating disorders?].

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment to reduce weight permanently which is essential to avoid, to improve or even to cure life-threatening comorbidities. Little is known about changes of the psychological etiology and risk factors.

METHODS

The present study concentrated on psychological variables which are considered to cause or promote obesity. The changes of symptoms were measured by the AD-EVA test inventory. A total of 60 patients (24 male/36 female, age 18-71 years) were tested prior to gastric bypass or gastric banding (body mass index BMI M=44.95, SD=6.91) and postoperatively (BMI M=33.92, SD=7.23).

RESULTS

Following surgery the variables addiction (t=11.15, p<0.01) and binge eating disorder (t=2.13, p<0.05) showed significant changes across all patients and therefore confirmed a positive effect but restrained eating and bulimia remained unmodified after surgery. There were significant differences between the two bariatric methods (p<0.01).

DISCUSSION

A precise interdisciplinary evaluation is a prerequisite for deciding between gastric banding and the bypass technique as well as to define the need for preoperative and postoperative psychotherapy.