Symptoms of maladaptive eating after bariatric surgery

People who undergo bariatric surgery (also referred to as weight loss surgery, WLS, or metabolic surgery), hope the procedure will solve their issues with food. However, many people will still struggle —especially after the “honeymoon” period is over. Because of all the changes due to the surgery, their symptoms, sometimes called “maladaptive eating,” may be different after bariatric surgery.*

Challenges with eating after WLS

Some common issues after bariatric surgery may be similar to those you had before surgery:

• You crave foods you’ve been told you “shouldn’t eat”?
• If you eat foods that aren’t “allowed,” you find it difficult to stop.
• You find yourself grazing frequently, but don’t feel satisfied and still want more food.
• You have trouble with emotional eating.
• You struggle to figure out what to do about your triggers and emotions if you aren’t eating to deal with them.

Symptoms of maladaptive eating after bariatric surgery

Because bariatric surgery changes the way your body handles food, symptoms of your food struggles might be different.

By the way, the term “maladaptive” isn’t a judgment. “Maladaptive” is used to describe types of behaviors that inhibit your ability to adjust to situations, in this case, difficulty adjusting to your “new normal” following bariatric surgery.

• Eating too quickly, taking large bites, or not chewing thoroughly
• Eating mindlessly while distracted, leading to over-consumption
• Not savoring food and therefore having difficulty feeling satisfied with small volumes of food
• Eating too much, leading to discomfort, vomiting, and/or distention of the pouch
• Grazing throughout the day and/or eating “slider” foods and high-calorie soft foods and liquids
• Struggling with emotional eating
• Not consuming enough protein or nutrient-rich foods
• Feeling guilty, deprived, or left-out in social situations
• Struggling to establish consistent, joyful physical activity
• Difficulty adjusting to life after bariatric surgery

You are not alone!

If you need help resolving issues with your eating after bariatric surgery, check out these options!

This article was updated from a previous version.

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