Background:
In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of individuals undergoing more invasive weight loss procedures such as bariatric surgery. It has been suggested that a substantial proportion of bariatric surgery candidates may experience eating disturbances, which can potentially affect the rate and grade of their post-operative weight loss if not addressed prior to surgery. This systematic review evaluated the current evidence base for the influence emotional eating on weight loss outcomes and change in emotional eating following bariatric surgery.
Method:
Electronic databases were searched from inception to March 2015 to identify original studies that assessed emotional eating in bariatric surgery, change of emotional eating following bariatric surgery and the influence of emotional eating on weight loss outcomes.
Results:
1385 were found of which 12 papers met the inclusion criteria and are reported in this review. Although the literature was limited by observational study designs and methodological weaknesses, the published research suggests that emotional eating decreases following bariatric surgery despite high prevalence rates prior to surgery. Only two studies examined the relationship between emotional eating and weight loss.
Conclusion:
Although the strength and significance of the evidence base for the change of emotional eating following bariatric surgery and its influence on weight outcomes remains uncertain, it does provide insight into this common eating behaviour in bariatric patients. Long-term well-designed intervention studies are required to adequately investigate emotional eating on weight loss and to develop best-practice management guidelines in the future to address emotional eating.