A naturalistic assessment of the relationship between negative affect and loss of control eating over time following metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Disordered eating behavior has been linked to suboptimal weight outcomes following metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), thereby threatening the most efficacious treatment for severe obesity. While up to 40% of patients may experience loss of control (LOC) eating following MBS, mechanisms driving this behavior are not fully understood. Preliminary evidence suggests that high levels of negative affect (NA) in the moment prompt LOC eating post-MBS; however, it remains unclear whether this momentary relationship is stable or changes over the first several years following surgery.