Research

Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), writes that common behavioral components of any self-destructive addiction are feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth. These contribute to a chronic fear of failure, the need to overachieve, depression, anxiety, and poor body image. Addicted eaters have not developed coping mechanisms enabling them to deal with the stress associated with these unpleasant feelings. Using Buffington’s model, the addicted eater craves carbohydrates and fats which can help to improve mood by increasing the neurochemical transmitters serotonin and dopamine. However, like drug or other substance abusers, the addicted eater is required to eat increasing amounts of “feel good” foods in order to maintain their mood. And like substance abusers, addicted eaters have a physical need to overeat simply to achieve emotional stability. As a result, they experience feelings of powerlessness over the types and amounts of foods they eat.

Bariatric surgery limits the amount of a patient can take in. And there are often serious consequences related to eating certain types of foods – particularly those high in sugars/carbohydrates. Dr. Buffington contends the limits created by bariatric surgery can help to reverse the neurochemical defects associated with addiction, but, over time, food cravings and depression may resurface in the post-operative bariatric patient resulting in weight regain.i

Mindfulness, and Mindful Eating, has been shown in multiple research studies to reduce depression, episodes of binge eating, anxiety, stress, fatigue, reliance on habitual behaviors to cope with stress, gastro-intestinal and cardio-pulmonary symptoms, pain, and feelings of low self-esteem, while promoting positive mood, and increasing immunological functioning, vigor, and relational functioning. Moreover, several studies have indicated that improvements associated with mindfulness training are ongoing – even at three and four year follow-up studies.