Food Addiction and Dietary Intake in Morbidly Obese Females Before and After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Bariatric surgery can be a successful treatment option for morbid obesity when dietary, exercise, and pharmacotherapy interventions fail. However, food addiction (FA) is a condition that can hinder the perceived value of food reward resulting in overconsumption of highly palatable food. The presence of FA not only contributes to the development of obesity but may also lessen weight loss success that occurs from bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to examine dietary intake and identify the prevalence of FA in obese women before and three months following vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). Obese females [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35] undergoing VSG were recruited from a bariatric surgical practice at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall were administered by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist during the pre-surgery and three-month post-surgery clinic appointments. FA was identified based on results from the YFAS qu...