Changes in Food Neophobia, Eating Psychopathology, and Depression in Patients Undergo Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery:...

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in food neophobia (fear of trying new foods), eating psychopathology and depression in patients with sleeve gastrectomy (SG) at preoperative (T0), 3-month (T1) and 6-month (T2) follow-up.

This study was conducted with 87 adults (43 males, 44 females) undergoing SG. Participants were assessed using the characteristic form, the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline. These assessments were repeated at T1 and T2. Higher scores on the FNS, EDE-Q, and BDI indicate greater levels of food neophobia, disordered eating behaviors and depressive symptoms, respectively.

There was a significant increase in the total FNS score and the number of neophobic patients from T0 to T1 and then a slight decrease (from T1 to T2), but it was still significantly higher at T2 than at T0. A statistically significant and progressive reduction was observed in the total and subscale scores of the EDE-Q and total BDI score at both T1 and T2. The BDI total score, the EDE-Q total score and all EDE-Q subscale scores (except for the Restraint) were significantly higher in females than in males at T1 and T2. FNS total score and the number of neophobic patients were higher in males at T0, T1 and T2.

Eating psychopathology and depressive symptoms may tend to improve after SG. Although it is possible to state that food neophobia has changed over time compared to before SG, it needs to be supported by studies.