Depression subtypes, binge eating, and weight loss in bariatric surgery candidates

Depression and binge eating disorder (BED) are prevalent among bariatric surgery candidates. Depression subtypes may be differentially related to obesity, such that the atypical subtype predicts poorer outcomes. However, no research has examined depression subtypes, BED, and weight loss in bariatric candidates.

To examine whether presurgical atypical depressive symptoms, compared with no depressive and melancholic depressive symptoms, were associated with higher rates of presurgical BED, binge eating severity, and poorer postsurgical weight loss trajectories among bariatric candidates.

An outpatient Midwest bariatric clinic.

Participants were 345 adults (aged 46.27 ± 12.78 yr, 76% female; body mass index = 49.84 ± 8.51 kg/m²) who received a presurgical evaluation. Depression subtypes (melancholic, atypical, and no depressive symptoms) were categorized using the Beck Depression Inventory-II. BED diagnosis and severity were evaluated using the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale and Binge Eating Scale, respectively. Weight loss trajectories were calculated as percent total weight loss postsurgery.

Using no depression as the referent, participants reporting melancholic symptoms (odds ratio = 7.60, P < .001 confidence interval₉₅ [2.59-22.28]) and atypical symptoms (odds ratio = 10.11, P < .01 confidence interval₉₅ [2.69-37.94]) were more likely to meet criteria for BED. Patients with atypical depressive symptoms exhibited the highest binge eating severity scores (mean = 23.03). Depression subtypes did not predict percent total weight loss trajectories within 18-months postbariatric surgery.

Patients reporting preoperative atypical depressive symptoms were more likely to meet criteria for co-morbid BED diagnosis and have greater binge eating severity but did not have poorer weight loss within 18 months postsurgery. Future studies with longer-term follow-up and corresponding measures of postsurgical depression and binge eating pathology are warranted.