Search

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: It is recommended that bariatric surgery candidates undergo psychological assessment. However, no specific instrument exists to assess the psychological well-being of bariatric patients, before and after surgery, and for which all constructs are valid for both genders. AIMS: This study aimed to develop and validate a new psychometric instrument to be used before and after bariatric surgery in order to assess psychological outcomes of patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that composed of 660 individuals from the community and bariatric patients. BariTest was developed on a Likert scale consisting of 59 items, distributed in 6 constructs, which assess the psychological well-being that influences bariatric surgery: emotional state, eating behavior, quality of life, relationship with body weight, alcohol consumption, and social support. Validation of BariTest was developed by the confirmatory factor analysis to check the content, criteria, and construct. The R statistical software version 3.5.0 was used in all analyses, and a significance level of 5% was used. RESULTS: Adjusted indices of the confirmatory factor analysis model indicate adequate adjustment. Cronbach’s alpha of BariTest was 0.93, which indicates good internal consistency. The scores of the emotional state, eating behavior, and quality of life constructs were similar between the results obtained in the community and in the postoperative group, being higher than in the preoperative group. Alcohol consumption was similar in the preoperative and postoperative groups and was lower than the community group. CONCLUSIONS: BariTest is a reliable scale measuring the psychological well-being of patients either before or after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: The use of probiotics as adjuvants in the treatment of eating disorders, known as psychobiotics, has already been investigated as a means of modulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis. AIM: This study aimed to assess the effect of probiotic supplementation on binge eating and food addiction in subjects after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. METHODS: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 101 patients who received probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07) or placebo supplements for 90 days after bariatric surgery, starting on the seventh postoperative day. They were evaluated preoperatively (T0) and postoperatively at 90 days (T1) and 1 year (T2) after surgery. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and Binge Eating Scale (BES) were applied to assess food addiction and binge eating, respectively. RESULTS: Before surgery, one-third of the patients presented with a food addiction and binge eating diagnosis. The number of symptoms of YFAS and the BES score decreased significantly in both groups at T1 compared to T0. However, a significant effect of treatment with probiotics was observed 1 year after surgery (T2). Both the number of symptoms of food addiction and the binge eating score were lower in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (p=0.037 and p=0.030, respectively). CONCLUSION: The use of probiotic supplementation for 90 days in the immediate postoperative period may decrease food addiction symptoms and binge eating score up to 1 year after surgery compared to controls.