Problematic food behaviours in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy patients: A prospective cohort pilot study

Background: Problematic food behaviours have been associated with poor outcomes post bariatric surgery. Multidisciplinary follow‐up care has shown to improve weight loss and complications post‐operatively.
Aim: To investigate the number and types of food behaviours pre‐ and post‐surgery, and their impact on weight loss, complications, and multidisciplinary follow‐up (nurse and dietitian).
Methods: This observational prospective chart audit consecutively sampled 53 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at a private medical centre. A food and eating problems checklist developed by the multi‐disciplinary team was inserted into medical notes. Patient characteristics, food problems, severity, and complication (surgical, gastrointestinal and nutritional) were collected at baseline and 6 months and analysed with SPSS. Linear and logistic regression examined relationships of significant continuous and categorical outcomes.
Results: Fifty‐three patients (39 years [IQR33‐66] and 117 kg [IQR103‐133 kg], 54% attendance at 6‐month follow‐up appointment and weight loss of 23.4 + 7.2%. The most commonly food problems were large portion sizes (87%), meal skipping (68.5%), graze eating patterns (57.4%), non‐hungry eating (31.5%) and binge eating (25.9%). Non hungry eating increased the odds of a moderate adverse event (OR: 4.4; 95%: CI, 1.1‐17.3; P = 0.034) and meal skipping was associated with a 5% less weight loss (95%; CI, −10.4 ‐ ‐0.133; P = 0.056). A significant decrease in problematic food behaviours were identified post‐surgery (P < 0.005).
Conclusion: Problematic food behaviours are common in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy patients and future studies would benefit from larger sample sizes and a longer follow‐up period to assist in understanding how to manage problematic food behaviours in bariatric surgery patients.