COVID-19-Related Increases in Depressive and Anxious Symptoms Are Associated with Maladaptive Eating Among Patients up to 4 years Post-bariatric Surgery

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Publication Title

Obesity surgery

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Depressive and anxious symptoms and maladaptive eating behaviors fluctuate with stressful events for patients seeking bariatric surgery. These associations are less clear for patients postoperatively. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a frame, we examined associations between changes in depressive and anxious symptoms and maladaptive eating behaviors between up to four years postoperatively.

METHODS: Participants (N = 703) who underwent surgery between 2018 and 2021 completed web-based questionnaires between 2021 and 2022. Demographic and surgical data were obtained from electronic health records. Participants reported whether depressive and anxious symptoms increased or were stable/decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and completed eating behavior measures.

RESULTS: Many participants reported increased depressive (27.5%) and anxious (33.7%) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to those who reported stable or decreased symptoms, these participants were as follows: (1) more likely to endorse presence of binge, loss-of-control, graze, and night eating; (2) reported higher emotional eating in response to anger and frustration, depression, and anxiety; and (3) reported higher driven and compulsive eating behaviors. Frequency of binge, loss-of-control, graze, and night eating episodes did not differ between groups (e.g., increased vs. stable/decreased anxious symptoms) among participants who endorsed any episodes.

CONCLUSION: A large portion of the sample reported increased depressive and anxious symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these increases were associated with maladaptive eating behaviors. Depressive and anxious symptoms and eating behaviors should be assessed postoperatively as significant stressors may be associated with increased distress and maladaptive eating behaviors that can affect postoperative outcomes. Postoperative interventions may be useful at simultaneously targeting these concerns.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; COVID-19; Female; Male; Bariatric Surgery; Depression; Anxiety; Middle Aged; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Feeding Behavior; Obesity, Morbid; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Postoperative Period; Pandemics

PubMed ID

38839635

Volume

34

Issue

7

First Page

2580

Last Page

2586

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