THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BINGE EATING AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN OBESE ADULTS SEEKING BARIATRIC SURGERY

Abstract

Abstract The United States is in the midst of an obesity epidemic of epic proportions. A growing number of adults are pursuing bariatric surgery to cure their obesity, which has proven successful for many individuals. A component of the evaluative process for bariatric surgery includes a psychological evaluation. The goal of the evaluation is to identify any psychological variables that would negatively impact an individual's ability to successfully adhere to the pre and post surgical requirements. There are inconsistent research findings of the rate of psychopathology in the obese population. However, there are research findings to indicate that binge eating accounts for much of the psychopathology in the obese population. As there is evidence in the literature to support a relationship between binge eating and psychopathology, the purpose of this study is to examine that relationship in a group of adults seeking bariatric surgery. Adults seeking bariatric surgery completed a comprehensive set of questionnaires assessing levels of depression, anxiety, anxiety spectrum disorders, stress, support, interpersonal functioning, disability, and knowledge related to obesity and weight loss. Another purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Revised Master Questionnaire. Results confirmed earlier indications of increased rates of psychopathology in obese adults who have moderate to severe levels of binge eating. Additionally, those with moderate and severe rates of binge eating endorsed higher rates of disability than those with no binge eating. The analysis of the Revised Master Questionnaire revealed acceptable internal consistency, but poor theoretical correlation between the factors of the questionnaire.