Interpersonal Characteristics and Binge Eating among Patients Pursuing Bariatric Surgery

Background: Preoperative binge eating behavior has been associated with difficulties in weight loss maintenance among patients pursuing bariatric surgery. However, limited data exists on the relationship between interpersonal difficulties and binge eating.

Objectives: To identify interpersonal factors linked with binge eating among bariatric surgery candidates.

Setting: One hundred and seventeen adult bariatric surgery candidates (BMI = 42.2 ± 5.2) from three different hospitals completed questionnaires on the day of their bariatric committee meeting for operation approval.

Methods: Binge eating was assessed using the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 (QEWP-5) as a dichotomous variable. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and interpersonal characteristics were evaluated using the short version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32). Sociodemographic variables (age, gender, income, education) and BMI were considered as confounders.

Results: Approximately 25% of bariatric surgery candidates reported experiencing binge eating episodes within the previous three months. Participants with binge eating exhibited significantly lower self-esteem and more interpersonal difficulties, particularly in the domains of aggressiveness and dependence, compared to those without binge eating. Logistic regression analysis revealed that aggressiveness was a significant predictor of binge eating in this sample.

Conclusions: This study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to investigate the relationship between interpersonal difficulties and binge eating among bariatric surgery candidates. The findings highlight the significant contribution of aggressiveness to binge eating and emphasize the importance of clinicians assessing patients' interpersonal functioning, particularly with regard to aggressiveness, as a factor that may contribute to the maintenance and occurrence of binge eating behaviors.