Eating Behavior in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Gastric Surgery: Differences Between Obese People with and without Psychiatric Disorders

Background: This study analyzes eating behavior in a group of morbidly obese patients who have undergone gastric reduction surgery for weight loss, and evaluates whether the existence of psychiatric comorbidity marks significant differences in their eating behavior. Methods: The study group was composed of 100 morbidly obese patients (85 females, 15 males) who had received surgical treatment for weight reduction (vertical banded gastroplasty). 40 of these patients (40%) met ICD-10 criteria for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and were included in the "Psychiatric Obese group" (PO). The other 60 patients (60%) did not show ICD-10 diagnostic criteria and were included in the "Non-Psychiatric Obese group" (NO). Each patient completed the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Bulimia Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE), and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups (PO and NO) in the Binge Eating Scale (p<0.001), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire subscale Disinhibition (p<0.001), BITE (p<0.001), Eating Disorder Inventory subscale Perfectionism (p<0.002), and Global EDI (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed correlation between PO group and Global EDI (Odds Ratio OR=1.43) and BITE (OR=1.16). No significant gender differences were found for eating behavior, clinical diagnosis, age, percentage of weight loss, time after operation, and BMI before surgery. Conclusion: Surgically treated morbidly obese patients with a psychiatric disorder (PO) have a more destructured eating pattern (with a predominance of binge eating and disinhibition) than NO.