The Presence of Food Addiction in Patients with Binge Eating Disorder Was Associated with Higher Weight, Poor Body Composition Outcomes, Lower Serum Level of Magnesium and Higher Ferritin 2 Years Post-LSG Surgery

Obes Surg. 2025 Jan;35(1):231-238. doi: 10.1007/s11695-024-07627-1. Epub 2024 Dec 14.

Abstract

Background: This study examined the presence of food addiction (FA) in patients with binge eating disorder (BED) 2 years after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and explored its association with some minerals, ferritin, weight loss and, body composition outcomes.

Materials and methods: In this study, 120 patients with BED who had undergone LSG 2 years prior to participation were enrolled. BED was assessed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria and presence of FA was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). The collected data included general characteristic, food intake, physical activity, weight loss percentage, body composition measurements such as fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM), as well as serum level of magnesium, zinc, iron, and ferritin.

Results: Fifty individuals with BED met the criteria for FA disorder (41.66%). BED patients who had FA had significantly higher weight (P = 0.01) compared to those without FA. Regarding body composition changes, the finding reveals that patients with BED + FA (vs. only-BED) had a significantly lower FM loss percentage (p = 0.04) and higher FFM loss percentage (p = 0.04). The BED patients with FA had significantly lower levels of magnesium (p = 0.02) and a higher level of ferritin (p = 0.04) compared to those without FA at second year after LSG.

Conclusion: The presence of FA in patients with BED was associated with higher weight, poor body composition outcomes, lower serum level of magnesium, and higher ferritin two years post-LSG surgery.

Keywords: Binge eating disorder; Ferritin; Food addiction; Magnesium.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Binge-Eating Disorder* / blood
  • Binge-Eating Disorder* / complications
  • Body Composition*
  • Female
  • Ferritins* / blood
  • Food Addiction* / blood
  • Gastrectomy*
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy
  • Magnesium* / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity, Morbid / blood
  • Obesity, Morbid / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss / physiology

Substances

  • Ferritins
  • Magnesium