The Emergence of Eating Pathology after Bariatric Surgery: A Rare Outcome with Important Clinical Implications

The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)²⁴ identified two major classes of weight loss surgery: (1) malabsorptive procedures, which limit the absorption of calories as well as important nutrients and proteins; and (2) restrictive procedures, which reduce gastric volume, thus limiting the amount of food that can be eaten. Some bariatric surgery procedures act through only one of these mechanisms (e.g., gastric banding) while other bariatric procedures act through malabsorption and restriction in concert (e.g., Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass; RYGBP). Research over the last decade has also made it clear that with certain procedures such as the RYGBP, changes in hormonal regulatory systems, including Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1), Peptide YY (PYY_3-36), and Ghrelin markedly alter hunger and satiety.^25,26 Such changes represent important mediators of subsequent weight loss.

Nutrient deficits, specialized diets, and medical complications that may mimic eating disorder behavior or symptoms (e.g., purging, constipation, and decreased appetite) are often seen following these procedures, making the distinction between eating disorder and postsurgical sequalea at times unclear.^27,28 Other postoperative symptoms of weight loss surgery (e.g., “plugging,” dumping, dysphagia, or constipation) may lead patients to engage in compensatory or restrictive behaviors to compensate for the uncomfortable feeling of having overeaten or having consumed foods that are difficult to tolerate after surgery.²⁹ Indeed it is difficult to distinguish between eating pathology and normal eating after bariatric surgery since many changes in eating are necessitated by the surgery. For example, routinely patients are instructed to limit meal size, to chew food extensively and to develop other eating patterns that could be regarded as ritualistic.²⁹ In examining such behaviors, one often must examine motivation, and in particular examine if the behaviors result from concerns about weight and shape.

Available studies have found a great deal of variability in the prevalence of binge-eating behavior and BED prior to surgery, partly owing to the definitions used and the nature of the instruments utilized, with a range from 2 to 49%.^30,31 Reviewing the literature on postoperative binge eating is difficult to do systematically because of the nature of the various bariatric surgery procedures. Niego et al.³⁰ reviewed the literature on binge eating among postbariatric surgery patients but the authors did not attempt a meta-analysis because the criteria used to assess binge eating and binge eating disorder were widely varied as well as the assessment instruments used in the assessments. The authors emphasized that there is confusion about the incidence and prevalence of binge eating in the bariatric population due to the fact that some studies used DSM-IV criteria and other studies used modified criteria, such as the existence of a subjective binge eating episode (a sense of “lack of control”; LOC), with the exclusion of the criterion that an abnormally large amount of food needs to be ingested, since the size of the gastric pouch after surgery limits the amount of food patients can eat and complicates assessment of what is considered a large amount of food.³² Without a more appropriately operationalized definition of “binge eating,” assessing its presence is difficult, although the term LOC eating appears to be gaining favor. Overall, the available studies suggest high rates of subjective binge eating or loss of control eating in those populations.^{6,28,29,32–34}

Some have suggested that binge eating behavior may manifest itself postoperatively as grazing (i.e., continual ingestion of small amounts of food over extended times with feelings of loss of control) among postoperative bariatric surgery patients.³⁵ While this assertion is useful in generating hypotheses about future analyses of eating behavior in bariatric surgery patients, it has not been empirically examined. Developing a definition with more emphasis placed on patients’ reports of LOC or deviation from the prescribed density or type of food recommended by their physician may be an important consideration.

Literature has suggested that postoperative patients may develop vomiting.^36–38 However, vomiting behavior may be used as a means to reduce discomfort from plugging symptoms that occur after eating newly indigestible foods. Conversely, vomiting may be used as a means to accelerate or maintain weight loss²⁹ and anecdotally has been encouraged by some surgeons. de Zwaan et al.²⁹ recently reported that vomiting was reported by more than 60% of a sample postoperatively, but only 12% admitted to vomiting with a clear goal of influencing shape and weight, which was very carefully assessed using various probes. Therefore such behavior appears to occur, but apparently in a minority of patients.

In the majority of centers performing bariatric surgeries, preoperative psychological evaluations are required before patients are allowed to undergo surgery.³⁹ It is presumed that healthy presurgical psychological functioning may prevent negative postoperative outcomes³; however, the predictive validity of psychopathology leading to untoward outcomes of bariatric surgery has been variable and a subject of much debate.^40,41 Preliminary evidence suggests that patients who are diagnosed with certain kinds of eating problems after surgery are more likely to regain weight than those diagnosed with an eating disorder before surgery who do not redevelop the problems postoperatively,⁴² although a preoperative problem with binge eating clearly does not preordain such an outcome.²⁹ However, evidence suggests that participants who develop binge eating or LOC eating after surgery appear to lose more weight or to regain more weight than those without this problem.^{29,34,37,40,43} Such symptoms also appear to be associated with vomiting for weight-related reasons and with more pathological score on measure of eating disorders and generally psychopathology.²⁹

Plugging and dumping are also frequent in patients postoperatively. As might be assumed, plugging is associated with postoperative nonweight-related vomiting, and with preoperative eating problems.³¹ Dumping has not been shown to be associated with less weight loss.^29,44

Limited research has examined psychological interventions targeted at postoperative patients. Recently, Leahey et al.⁴⁵ performed a small pilot study to assess treatment adherence targeted at reducing binge eating and grazing among bariatric surgery candidates who were referred to the treatment preoperatively or postoperatively. The authors found that patients who were referred for the treatment after undergoing surgery were significantly more likely to complete the treatment and attended significantly more treatment sessions than did their counterparts who received referrals for the treatment prior to undergoing surgery.⁴⁵ These early findings suggest an important consideration in targeting disordered eating pathology after surgery in bariatric surgery patients.

In the case of the eating disorders that occur after surgery, behavioral and cognitive approaches have been helpful for some patients who develop BN and AN symptoms,^46–48 although no controlled studies are documented. Atchison et al.¹⁵ noted the difficulties in treating the eating pathology in postbariatric surgery patients that included at least that factors: their fear of weight gain which is in some ways realistic, that postsurgical dieting and food intolerance limit food intake, and the intense focus on weight management and body image. Indeed, management of body image concerns (e.g., hanging skin, plateau in weight loss, body checking) and monitoring of eating behavior and psycho-education are important components of postbariatric surgery follow-up care.⁴¹

The literature has been clear in documenting that severe medical repercussions can occur from repeated vomiting, laxative abuse, or fasting.⁴⁹ At a minimum, it is necessary for medical providers to inform patients about the dangers certain behaviors, such as repeated vomiting and fasting, can pose. If patients continue to eat foods they have found to cause plugging with intentions of vomiting, health care providers should be concerned. Education about eating disordered thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors may help patients recognize disordered eating patterns, body image distortions, and the undue influence on shape and weight before negative medical effects occur or before patients are faced with diagnosable eating disorder symptoms.

Segal et al.²¹ have described a set of criteria which may be helpful for practitioners attempting to determine if their postbariatric surgery patients may be experiencing what they have termed postsurgical eating avoidance disorder and Fandiño et al. have reported a case of a patient with this disorder who developed Wernicke Karsakoff syndrome.⁵⁰ While this unwieldy term is perhaps unlikely to gain favor, the cases reported by this group well illustrate the problems that can develop. Using clinical judgment about the attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors of patients can be helpful in ensuring adequate postoperative outcomes.