Physical activity and psychosocial correlates following bariatric surgery among patients with loss-of-control eating

Abstract Objective Physical activity (PA) is an integral component of the medical management of patients following bariatric surgery as it is thought to be associated with biopsychosocial outcomes, including mood and physical function. This study examined self-reported PA (SR-PA) and psychosocial correlates among patients with loss-of-control (LOC) eating following bariatric surgery. Method Participants were 145 patients (82.8% female, 53.8% White) who were experiencing recurrent LOC-eating approximately six months after having undergone sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Body mass index (BMI) and percent total weight loss were calculated using measured height and weight.. Eating-disorder symptoms were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination-Bariatric Surgery Version interview and participants completed established self-report measures assessing PA, health-related quality of life (mental and physical functioning domains), weight-related disability, and depression. Results Approximately two-thirds of the participant group reported at least one bout (≥15 min) of moderate PA per week. SR-PA was significantly negatively associated with LOC-eating frequency, dissatisfaction with weight and shape, depression, and weight-related disability, and was significantly positively correlated with physical functioning. After adjusting for depression and BMI, SR-PA remained significantly associated with better physical functioning but no longer contributed significant independent variance to eating-disorder psychopathology or weight-related disability. Conclusions Among patients with LOC-eating following bariatric surgery, an inactive lifestyle is common. Greater PA was associated with better psychosocial functioning and finding ways to promote greater engagement with recommended levels of PA following bariatric surgery may contribute to improved bariatric surgery outcome.