Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery is the Most Effective Intervention in Reducing Food Addiction Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

There are diferent treatments for food addiction (FA) symptomatology, but a comprehensive review with a meta-analysis to determine the most efective intervention is lacking. The aim of this review is to investigate the efcacy of pharmacologi cal, behavioral, and bariatric-metabolic surgical interventions in reducing FA symptomatology. Meta-analyses including 15 studies in adults showed a signifcantly positive efect (std mean diference in FA symptoms before vs after intervention 0.72 (0.58–0.95)), with bariatric-metabolic surgical interventions showing the highest efcacy in improving FA symptoms (1.17 (0.58–1.76) before vs after intervention). The existing evidence suggests a benefcial efect of bariatric-metabolic surgical, pharmacological, and behavioral interventions, in that order, on FA symptomatology in people with overweight/obesity. Weight loss and behavioral and lifestyle changes after surgery may be determinants in improving FA symptomatology