Emphasising personal investment effects weight loss and hedonic thoughts about food after obesity surgery

Suboptimal Weight Loss 13 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Is Hedonic Hunger, Eating Behaviour and Food Reward to Blame?

Purpose

Suboptimal weight loss (SWL) and weight regain (WR) following bariatric surgery are common. The exact reasons for this phenomenon remain to be fully elucidated. To compare hedonic hunger, food preferences, food reward and eating behaviour traits between participants with SWL and optimal weight loss (OWL) 13 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Materials and Method

Cross-sectional case control study where participants experiencing SWL or OWL (< or ≥ 50% of excess weight, respectively) post-RYGB were compared to a non-surgical control group matched for pre-operative body mass index. Hedonic hunger (Power of Food Scale), implicit and explicit liking and wanting for high-fat and low-fat savoury and sweet food (Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire) and eating behaviour (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and the Food Cravings Questionnaires State and Trait-reduced) were assessed.

Results

In total, 75 participants were recruited from the bariatric surgery observation study (BAROBS). Disinhibition, hunger, emotional, external and restrained eating, frequency of cravings and hedonic hunger were lower in the OWL, compared with the SWL and/or control groups. Implicit wanting and explicit liking and wanting for high-fat savoury and high-fat sweet food were lower, and implicit wanting for low-fat savoury food higher, in the OWL, compared with the SWL and/or control groups.

Conclusion

SWL 13 years after RYGB is associated with dysfunctional eating behaviours, increased preference and reward for high-fat food and increased hedonic hunger. Future longitudinal studies are needed to establish the cause-effect relationship between these variables.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11695-022-06075-z.

The Relationship Between Energy Intake and Weight Loss in Bariatric Patients

INTRODUCTION

There is a huge variation in weight loss outcomes between bariatric patients, possibly due to differences in caloric intake and changes in the amount physical activity. However, the association between the change in energy intake and weight loss has not yet been the subject of an extensive investigation.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between total energy intake and % total body weight loss (%TBWL) over a period of 4 years post-surgery.

METHODS

Of the 466 patients who were asked to participate, a total 135 patients were included in this study. They all underwent bariatric surgery, 54 with primary Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, 43 redo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass after laparoscopic gastric banding and 38 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Pre- and post-operative dietary intake and physical activity were collected for both a weekday and a weekend day. The main analysis was performed using multiple regression analyses and was adjusted for age at surgery, BMI at baseline, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, type of eating behaviour, change in physical activity and protein intake (g/kg body weight).

RESULTS

%TBWL over time, post-operative energy intake and change in physical activity did not differ between the different procedure groups (p = 0.312, p = 0.988 and p = 0.050, respectively). Change in energy intake did differ between different procedure groups (p = 0.031) and linear regression showed that this was related to total body weight loss for the fully adjusted model (β = - 0.004, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

This study showed a higher decrease in energy intake to be related with a higher %TBWL.

Bariatric surgery and type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is primarily managed with lifestyle modifications, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and medication. The goal is to maintain A1C less than 7% in most patients and prevent damage to other organs such as the kidneys and heart. Patients who are obese and cannot achieve normal blood glucose levels despite diet, exercise, and multiple medications may be considered for bariatric surgery. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy have been shown to improve A1C, reduce weight, and reduce the number of medications patients need for diabetes management. Comorbidities such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension also may improve. This article describes types of bariatric surgery, proper selection of surgical candidates, patient education, and the postoperative patient management necessary for long-term success in improving blood glucose control.

Changes in taste function and ingestive behavior following bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity and its related comorbidities. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) are currently the most popular weight-loss surgeries used worldwide. Following these surgeries, many patients self-report changes in taste perception and decreased preference for unhealthy foods. These reported changes might account for increased adherence to healthier diets and successful weight loss after surgeries. However, researchers have used a variety of methodologies to assess patients' reported changes andresults are discrepant. The goal of this review is to summarize the literature regarding changes to taste function and ingestive behavior following RYGB and SG to examine differences in findings by methodology (indirect vs. direct measurements). We focused our review around changes in sweets, fats, and alcohol because most of the documented changes in ingestive behavior post-surgery are related to changes in these dietary items. We found that studies using surveys and questionnaires generally find that subjects self-report changes in taste and decrease their preference and cravings for energy-dense foods (particularly, sweets and high-fats). However, studies using validated sensory techniques that include oral sampling or by using direct food intake measurements find little to no change in subjects' ability to perceive taste or their preference for energy-dense foods. Therefore, reported changes in taste and food preferences are unlikely to be explained by alterations in taste intensity and diet selection, and are rather related to changes in the rewarding value of food. Further, that RYGB, and likely SG, is associated with increased alcohol consumption and arisk to develop an alcohol use disorder) supports the notion that these surgeries alter central circuits of reward that are critical in the regulation of ingestive behavior.

The role of hedonics in the Human Affectome

Experiencing pleasure and displeasure is a fundamental part of life. Hedonics guide behavior, affect decision-making, induce learning, and much more. As the positive and negative valence of feelings, hedonics are core processes that accompany emotion, motivation, and bodily states. Here, the affective neuroscience of pleasure and displeasure that has largely focused on the investigation of reward and pain processing, is reviewed. We describe the neurobiological systems of hedonics and factors that modulate hedonic experiences (e.g., cognition, learning, sensory input). Further, we review maladaptive and adaptive pleasure and displeasure functions in mental disorders and well-being, as well as the experience of aesthetics. As a centerpiece of the Human Affectome Project, language used to express pleasure and displeasure was also analyzed, and showed that most of these analyzed words overlap with expressions of emotions, actions, and bodily states. Our review shows that hedonics are typically investigated as processes that accompany other functions, but the mechanisms of hedonics (as core processes) have not been fully elucidated.

The relationship between dietary restraint and deficits in reasoning about causes of obesity

Objective: Increased levels of dietary restraint are associated with deficits on many cognitive tasks. Less is known about how individual differences in restraint influences complex cognition such as reasoning which is the focus of this research.Design: Two experimental studies are reported. In study 1, participants (n = 158) completed a causal conditional reasoning task with statements about weight-related and general causal relationships. Study 2 replicated and extended study 1. Participants (n = 108) completed a causal conditional reasoning task focusing on behavioural causes of weight change or general statements.Main outcome measure: Causal conditional reasoning task performance.Results: In study 1, levels of dietary restraint were negatively associated with reasoning abilities for weight-related statements only. Study 2 replicated the negative association between dietary restraint and reasoning finding the effect in both weight-related, and general, causal judgements.Conclusion: The novel findings show that individual differences in dietary restraint have a wider relationship with cognition than previously demonstrated. Results tentatively support theoretical explanations of a reduction in cognitive capacity, rather than differences in belief, explaining reasoning deficits. These findings open an interesting avenue for research and might have implications for effective decision making about personal health behaviours, such as food choice.

The impact of self-efficacy and health literacy on outcome after bariatric surgery in Sweden: a protocol for a prospective, longitudinal mixed-methods study

INTRODUCTION

A person-centred approach, to know about a person's individual weaknesses and strengths, is warranted in today's healthcare in Sweden. When a person suffers from obesity, there are not only risks for comorbidities but also increased risk for decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After bariatric surgery, there are also risks for complications; however, healthcare service expects the person to have sufficient ability to handle recovery after surgery. The need is to investigate how a person's self-efficacy and health literacy(HL) skills are important to determine their effect on recovery as well as HRQoL after bariatric surgery. It can, involve the person in the care, improve shared decision-making, and perhaps decrease complications and readmissions.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective, longitudinal mixed-methods study with the intent of including 700 patients from three bariatric centres in Sweden (phase 1); 20 patients will be included in a qualitative study (phase 2). Inclusion criteria will be age >17 years, scheduled primary bariatric surgery and ability to read and understand the Swedish language in speech and in writing. Inclusion criteria for the qualitative study will be patients who reported a low self-efficacy, with a selection to ensure maximum variation regarding age and gender. Before bariatric surgery patients will answer a questionnaire including 20 items. Valid and reliable instruments will be used to investigate general self-efficacy (10 items) and functional and communicative and critical HL (10 items). This data collection will then be merged with data from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. Analysis will be performed 30 days, 1 year and 2 years after bariatric surgery. One year after bariatric surgery the qualitative study will be performed. The main outcomes are the impact of a person's self-efficacy and HL on recovery after bariatric surgery.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has received approval from the ethical review board in Uppsala, Sweden (number 2018/256). The study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations to the scientific community and social media.

Self-Reported Hedonism Predicts 12-Month Weight Loss After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Introduction

Research regarding psychological risk factors for reduced weight loss after bariatric surgery has yielded mixed results, especially for variables measured prior to surgery. More profound personality factors have shown better promise and one such factor that may be relevant in this context is time perspective, i.e., the tendency to focus on present or future consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of time perspective for 12-month weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Methods

A total of 158 patients were included and completed self-report instruments prior to surgery. Weight loss was measured after 12 months by medical staff. Background variables as well as self-reported disordered eating, psychological distress, and time perspective were analyzed with regression analysis to identify significant predictors for 12-month weight loss.

Results

The mean BMI loss at 12 months was 14 units, from 45 to 30 kg/m². Age, sex, and time perspective could significantly predict weight loss but only male sex and self-reported hedonism were independent risk factors for reduced weight loss in the final regression model.

Conclusion

In this study, self-reported hedonistic time perspective proved to be a better predictor for 12-month weight loss than symptoms of disordered eating and psychological distress. It is possible that a hedonistic tendency of focusing on immediate consequences and rewards is analogous to the impaired delay discounting seen in previous studies of bariatric surgery candidates. Further studies are needed to identify whether these patients may benefit from extended care and support after surgery.

Massive weight loss following deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens in a depressed woman

Obese individuals share behavioral characteristics with drug/alcohol addicts as well as obsessive compulsive disease. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used successfully in these disorders, thus warranting an evaluation in obesity. A woman with treatment-resistant depression as well as severe obesity was selected for DBS of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) bilaterally with depression being the primary and obesity being the secondary target of treatment. Compared to earlier bariatric surgery, the patient showed accelerated weight loss after DBS. Also, depression was significantly reduced. The current case suggests that DBS of the NAcc warrants further evaluation in patients unresponsive to other treatments.

A randomised control trial assessing the impact of an investment based intervention on weight-loss, beliefs and behaviour after bariatric surgery: study protocol

BACKGROUND

Although obesity surgery is currently the most effective method for achieving weight loss, not all patients lose the desired amount of weight and some show weight regain. Previous research shows that successful weight loss may be associated with the amount of investment the patient feels that they have made in their operation. For example, those who feel that it has taken more time and effort to organise, has cost more money, has been more disruptive to their lives and has caused pain are more likely to lose weight after their operation. Therefore, it seems as if the greater the sense of investment, the greater the motivation to make the operation a success. The present study aims to build on these findings by encouraging weight loss surgery patients to focus on the investment they have made, thus making their investment more salient to them and a means to improve weight loss outcomes.

METHODS

The study involves an open randomised parallel group control trial with patients allocated either to the control or investment intervention group. Using third party blinded randomization, half the patients will be asked to rate and describe the investment they have made in their operation just before surgery then 3 and 6 months after surgery. All patients will record their weight, beliefs about food, intentions to change and actual eating and exercise behaviour at baseline then 3, 6 and 12 months follow up. Patients will be recruited from the bariatric surgery pre-assessment clinic at University College Hospital, London. The primary outcome is to explore the impact of the investment based intervention on patient's weight and BMI, with secondary outcomes of patients' beliefs about foods, behavioural intentions and diet and exercise behaviours.

DISCUSSION

It is predicted that the investment intervention will improve excess weight loss post-surgery, together with beliefs about food, intentions to change and actual change in diet and exercise behaviour. This has cost implications for the NHS and other healthcare providers as improved effectiveness of bariatric surgery reduces the health costs of obese patients in the longer term and this simple, easy to administer and low cost intervention could become routine practice for bariatric patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02045628; December 2, 2013.