background: Gastric restrictive surgery induces a marked change in eating behavior. However, the relationship between preoperative and postoperative eating behavior and weight loss outcome has received limited attention. objective: This study assessed a range of eating behaviors before and 1 year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and explored the nature and extent of change in eating patterns, their clinical associates, and impact on weight loss. Methods and Procedures: A 12-month observational study assessed presurgical and postsurgical binge eating disorder (BED), uncontrolled eating, night eating syndrome (NES), grazing, nutrient intake and eating-related behaviors, and markers of psychological distress. A total of 129 subjects (26 male and 103 female, mean age 45.2 ± 11.5 and BMI 44.3 ± 6.8) participated in this study. Results: Presurgical BED, uncontrolled eating, and NES occurred in 14%, 31%, and 17.1% of subjects, which reduced after surgery to 3.1%, 22.5%, and 7.8%, respectively (P = 0.05 for all). Grazing was prevalent before (26.3%) and after surgery (38.0%). Preoperative BED most frequently became grazers (P = 0.029). The average percentage weight loss (%WL) was 20.8 ± 8.5%; range −0.67 to 50.0% and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) 50.0 ± 20.7%; range −1.44 to 106.9% (P < 0.001). Uncontrolled eating and grazing after surgery showed high overlap and were associated with poorer %WL (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively) and elevated psychological distress. Discussion: Consistent with recent studies, uncontrolled eating and grazing were identified as two high-risk eating patterns after surgery. Clearer characterization of favorable and unfavorable postsurgical eating behaviors, reliable methods to assess their presence, and empirically tested postsurgical intervention strategies are required to optimize weight loss outcomes and facilitate psychological well-being in at-risk groups.

Objective: Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by a time-delayed pattern of eating relative to sleep, where most food is consumed in the evening and night. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of NES and nocturnal snacking by exploring the relationship between NES and (1) obesity, (2) binge eating disorder (BED) and (3) Methods: NES diagnosis required within the previous 3 months: (1) no appetite for breakfast, (2) consumption of X50% of daily energy after 1900 hours and (3) sleep difficulties X3 nights/week. Nocturnal snacking (awakening to eat) was recorded. Validated questionnaires assessed BED, symptoms of depression, appearance dissatisfaction (AD) and mental health-related quality of life (MHQoL). NES and binge eating (BE) (X1 episode/week) were confirmed by interview. Results: NES criteria were met by 11.1% of the total cohort. Across all groups, BE (P ¼ 0.001), BMI (P ¼ 0.003) and male gender (P ¼ 0.013) explained 10% of NES variance. Individuals with co-morbid NES and BE reported similarly elevated psychological distress as other binge eaters. NES alone was not associated with psychological distress. Those with NES who consumed nocturnal snacks reported poorer MHQoL (P ¼ 0.007) and greater depressive symptoms (P ¼ 0.039) and hunger (P ¼ 0.013) than others with NES. Low MHQoL (P ¼ 0.007) and male gender (P ¼ 0.022) explained 27% of the variance in the nocturnal snacking group. Discussion: In this study, NES was positively associated with BMI, BE and male gender. Elevated psychological distress was only apparent in those who consumed nocturnal snacks. Further characterization and understanding of the clinical significance of NES and nocturnal snacking is required.

Objective: Binge eating disorder (BED) is positively associated with obesity and psychological distress, yet the behavioral features of BED that drive these associations are largely unexplored. The primary aim of this study was to investigate which core behavioral features of binge eating are most strongly related to psychological disturbance. Methods and Procedures: A cross-sectional study involved 180 bariatric surgery candidates, 93 members of a non-surgical weight loss support group, and 158 general community respondents (81 men/350 women, mean age 45.8 ± 13.3, mean BMI 34.8 ± 10.8, BMI range 17.7-66.7). Validated questionnaires assessed BED and binge eating, symptoms of depression, appearance dissatisfaction (AD), quality of life (QoL) and eating-related behaviors. Features of binge eating were confirmed by interview. BMI was determined by clinical assessment and self-report. Results: The loss of control (LOC) over eating, that is, being unable to stop eating or control what or how much was consumed was most closely related to psychological markers of distress common in BED. In particular, those who experienced severe emotional disturbance due to feelings of LOC reported higher symptoms of depression (P < 0.001), AD (P = 0.009), and poorer mental health-related QoL (P = 0.027). Discussion: Persons who report subjective binge episodes or do not meet BED frequency criteria for objective binge episodes may still be at elevated risk of psychological disturbance and benefit from clinical intervention. Feelings of LOC could drive binge eaters to seek bariatric surgery in an attempt to gain control over body weight and psychologically disturbing eating behavior.