The hidden burden: how binge-eating symptoms impact postmetabolic and bariatric surgery success
In brief
Post-surgery binge episodes got 81% of calories from ultra-processed foods
In a cross-sectional study of 66 women at least a year after bariatric surgery, those with binge-eating symptoms had less excess weight loss, higher body fat, poorer dietary intake and lower quality of life. Their reported episodes were often emotionally triggered and 81.3% of episode calories came from ultra-processed foods; the study shows associations, not that binge eating caused poorer outcomes.
- Journal
- Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (Q1)
- Published
- 21 September 2026
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study
- Evidence level
- Level 3, Low (CEBM 3b)
- Authors
- Victoria Ferrari Canedo de Sant'Anna, Rafaela Dutra, Alessandra Pinheiro Mulder
- PMID
- 42869678
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.soard.2026.09.016
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (top studies of the week, 18 October 2026): Binge‑eating symptoms impact weight loss and quality of life after
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Binge-eating symptoms after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) may impair dietary intake, postoperative outcomes, and health-related quality of life, yet their manifestations remain insufficiently characterized OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether binge-eating symptoms are associated with dietary intake, postoperative outcomes, and health-related quality of life in women after MBS, and to characterize reported binge-eating episodes quantitatively and qualitatively SETTING: Obesity Outpatient Unit of Policlinic Piquet Carneiro, State University of Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 66 women at least 12 months after MBS without nutritional follow-up in the previous 6 months, classified as controls (Binge Eating Scale (BES) <17; n = 37) or with binge-eating symptoms (BES ≥17; n = 29). Anthropometric, body composition, dietary, and quality-of-life data were obtained; dietary intake and episodes were assessed using 24-hour recalls and classified by NOVA (the NOVA food classification system, based on the extent and purpose of industrial processing). RESULTS: Women with binge-eating symptoms showed lower excess weight loss, higher body fat percentage, higher energy and carbohydrate intake, and lower relative protein intake than controls. High quality of life was less frequent, and BES score was inversely associated with Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) score (rho = -.418, P = .0005). Episodes were energy-dense, carbohydrate-predominant, emotionally triggered, and often occurred without hunger, mainly at home and later in the day. Overall NOVA distribution did not differ between groups; however, episodes themselves were markedly dominated by ultra-processed foods (81.3% of caloric content), versus unprocessed/minimally processed foods (12.5%) and processed foods (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Binge-eating symptoms after MBS were associated with poorer dietary intake, less favorable postoperative outcomes, and poorer health-related quality of life.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.