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Eating Pathology After Bariatric Surgery: an Updated Review of the Recent Literature

  • Eating Disorders (S Wonderlich and S Engel, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this paper was to extend the prior literature on eating pathology following bariatric surgery by highlighting themes in data published over the past 3 years and identifying limitations and future directions for research.

Recent Findings

Changes in eating pathology after bariatric surgery remain consistent with previous research. Specifically, diagnostic prevalence rates and incidence of related behaviors generally decrease following surgery. However, some research supports that these factors increase and/or remit over time following surgery, and that they subsequently have a negative impact on weight loss outcomes.

Summary

While recent findings have extended knowledge on eating pathology following bariatric surgery, the overall body of literature is still relatively limited. Additional research is needed, including work focusing on the standardization of eating pathology definitions, development/validation of standardized eating pathology instruments for bariatric surgery patients, and predictors of risk for continued or new onset eating pathology following surgery.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Correspondence to Gail A. Williams-Kerver.

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Conflict of Interest

Gail A. Williams-Kerver reports a grant from National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH082761).

Kristine Steffen reports grants from Sanford Profile/NDSU Grants, NIH, and Shire Pharmaceuticals.

James E. Mitchell reports Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Study; Grant/Award Number U01-DK66471 from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

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All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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Williams-Kerver, G.A., Steffen, K.J. & Mitchell, J.E. Eating Pathology After Bariatric Surgery: an Updated Review of the Recent Literature. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 86 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1071-7

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