A Longitudinal Preliminary Study of Addiction-Like Responses to Food and Alcohol Consumption Among Individuals Undergoing Weight Loss Surgery

Reductions in addiction-like food behaviors and increases in alcohol intake have been reported after weight loss surgery. However, no studies have tracked these measures in combination and prospectively. In this preliminary study, 27 participants underwent bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 10) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (n = 6)), dietary weight loss (n = 6), or no treatment (n = 5). Participants were weighed, completed the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and reported alcohol intake frequency before intervention and at 4 and 24 months after baseline. At 24 months, only the surgery group showed significant reductions in BMI. Between baseline and 24 months, YFAS scores decreased (p =.006) and alcohol intake increased in the surgery group (p =.005). Significant changes were not observed in the diet or no treatment groups.