Mindless and Emotional Eating after Bariatric Surgery

Weight cycling, yoyo dieting, and disordered eating patterns are common in individuals who meet the criteria for bariatric surgery.[1–5] Further, the challenges posed by a food-abundant environment, social and emotional connections to food, chronic ineffective dieting, and eating disorders may not resolve with bariatric surgery.

In a peer-reviewed article, The Mindful Eating Cycle: Preventing and Resolving Maladaptive Eating after Bariatric Surgery, published in Bariatric Times, we explored common mindless habits, emotional eating, and maladaptive eating that may contribute to challenges commonly seen after bariatric surgery.[6,7] We offered a structured approach for learning mindful eating skills using the Mindful Eating Cycle that may help bariatric surgery patients gain insight into why, when, what, how, and how much they eat and where they invest their energy.[8]

The addition of mindful eating skills to the clinicians’ and bariatric surgery patients’ toolbox provides conscious decision-making strategies and sustainable lifestyle changes over time. The article also includes a link to this download of a one-page reproducible handout for your patients, clients, and support groups.

References

1. Mann T, Tomiyama JA, Westling E, et al. Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. Am Psychol. 2007;62(3):220–233.
2. Abiles V, Rodriguez-Ruiz S, Mellado C, et al. Psychological characteristics of morbidly obese candidates for bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2010; 20(2):161-167.
3. de Zwann M, Hilbert A, Swan-Kremeier L, et al. Comprehensive interview assessment of eating behavior 18-35 months after gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2010;6(1):79–85.
4. Baker C, Noushad E, Padinjakara K, et al. Prevalence of eating disorder characteristics in the morbidly obese patients. Presented at: Society of Endocrinology Meetings. March 2009.
5. Kinzl JF, Maier C, Bosch A. Morbidly obese patients: psychopathology and eating disorders—Results of a preoperative evaluation. Neuropyschiatr. 2012;26(4):159–165.
6. May M, Furtado M, Ornstein L. The mindful eating cycle: Preventing and resolving maladaptive eating after bariatric surgery. Bariatric Times. 2014;11(2):8-12.
7. Sarwer D, Dilks RJ, West-Smith L. Dietary intake and eating behavior after bariatric surgery: threats to weight loss maintenance and strategies for success. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2011;(7)5: 644–651.
8. May M, Furtado M. Am I hungry? mindful eating for bariatric surgery workbook. Am I Hungry? Publishing. 2012.