Relationship of Obesity and Eating Behaviors with Depression and Anxiety in Candidates for Weight Loss Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Objectives : In recent years, bariatric surgery has become a popular treatment option for obesity in addition to medical treatment. As the procedure involves removing the factor of emotional eating, which may be significant for stress reduction, careful presurgical psychosocial evaluation is important. Candidates for bariatric surgery were evaluated based on the presence or absence of psychiatric disorders, stress status, and personal characteristics that lead to obesity.

Method : We evaluated the psychological characteristics of candidate patients for bariatric surgery using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-Ⅱ, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE), and assessed the relationship between obesity, eating behavior (binge eating), and depression and anxiety.

Results : Significant correlations were observed between BITE and BDI, STAI status, and STAI characteristics ; however, no significant correlations were noted between obesity and BITE.

Conclusion : These findings suggest that the more severe the bulimic symptoms, the more likely the patient is to experience depression and anxiety. As a treatment team, we consider it necessary to observe patients undergoing treatment for obesity for potential eating behavior problems and accompanying depression and anxiety while using mental indicators such as BITE for guidance, irrespective of the severity of obesity.