Many patients choose bariatric surgery to lose weight. This popular surgery helps with physical hunger but doesn’t address underlying emotional triggers. Or does it? So this procedure alters the stomach and small intestine. It regulates hormones and reduces calorie absorption. It limits the amount of food the stomach can hold. But for emotional eaters, the road post-surgery can be tough, right? Let’s take a look at emotional eating after this bariatric surgery. And find the best ways to address it.
Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are highly effective surgical procedures for weight loss. They work by physically limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold. These surgeries help patients feel full on smaller portions and limit calorie absorption.
Emotional eating is a complex problem in which people use food as a coping mechanism to manage negative emotions. For many, eating becomes a way to numb or avoid difficult feelings. For some, the psychological factors that cause emotional eating may continue to be a problem even after surgery. Patients must find other ways to cope with emotions, which can potentially lead to new or different unhealthy habits.
Addressing emotional eating after surgery requires a more holistic approach that includes psychological support. Behavioral therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, can help patients identify emotional triggers for eating and develop healthier coping strategies. Support groups for patients undergoing bariatric surgery can also provide valuable support and experience sharing, reinforcing healthy habits and emotional well-being. The best approach is to combine surgery with ongoing mental health support by creating a comprehensive plan that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of eating. This comprehensive strategy increases the chances of sustained weight loss and improves overall mental health after surgery.
Some patients lose interest in food after surgery. But as they adjust to their new lifestyle, they may begin to crave comfort foods, especially during times of stress.
A restricted diet after surgery leads to feelings of deprivation. Sometimes patients will turn to food for comfort when they feel depressed, anxious, or emotionally agitated. Here are some emotional eating recovery tips to help you regain control over your eating habits and improve your emotional well-being.
Deal with your triggers. This is a way to overcome emotional eating. You can journal your emotions to identify patterns that lead to overeating. Write down when you feel stressed, sad, or anxious. Before you reach for unhealthy food, consider other ways you can calm down. Cognitive behavioral therapy with a therapist can also help you gain skills in constructive emotional management. Try to reduce your reliance on food for comfort.
Practice mindfulness while eating. It is helpful to approach a meal without distractions. Savor each bite and focus on the sensory experience of the food. This is the first step to changing your relationship with food. This practice encourages you to appreciate food for its nutritional value, rather than to improve your emotional state.
You need a strong support system. Surround yourself with people who support you and encourage you. Who will be by your side during this difficult time? Family, friends, or a support group? Having people to lean on during difficult periods will help you. If you don’t have a close support system, consider joining a community of people who share similar experiences for encouragement and motivation.
Managing stress eating takes time and practice. But you can take the first step toward health right away. Everyone reacts to stress differently. Find activities that work for you. You might find relief in drawing, reading, or learning to play a musical instrument. Massage or acupuncture can help reduce stress. Regular exercise is one of the most effective stress relievers. Going to the gym, taking a fitness class, or joining a walking or running group can help control your stress.
Undergo a comprehensive nutritional and psychological assessment and receive support. This will prepare you to manage psychological triggers better and help you stop using food as a coping mechanism. Reducing your stomach capacity and avoiding fatty or sugary foods due to discomfort or dumping syndrome can help patients prevent emotional eating. Bariatric surgery alters the gut hormones GLP-1 and peptide YY, which affect hunger and satiety, as well as neural activity in areas associated with motivation and reward for eating. These changes help reduce cravings for stress eating.
Middle-aged Caucasian women from Western industrialized countries took part in the study. These neuroimaging studies have shown that patients undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and SG have decreased activity in brain regions associated with motivation and reward for eating. There is also increased activation in the areas related to cognitive limitation. Many patients report a decrease in emotional eating. There is a decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Emotional eating improves significantly after the surgery, especially during the first 12 months.
Stress eating after bariatric surgery is a problem. How to establish new eating habits? How to achieve a harmonious relationship with food? Seek support from a counselor who specializes in eating behavior or bariatric surgery. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be especially helpful in addressing emotional eating. Practice mindfulness while eating. Focus on how you feel as you eat, and listen to your body’s signals for hunger and fullness. Instead of seeking comfort in food, engage in other stress-reducing activities. Practice yoga, meditation, or exercise. Check in with your emotional state regularly. Stress eating may still be a problem after surgery, but we are here to support you. Book a consultation. We will help you get back to a healthy weight and deal with any associated issues.