Binge eating, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in obese candidates for bariatric surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine possible associations between binge eating, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in obese candidates for bariatric surgery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 254 obese patients recruited from the general surgery service for bariatric procedures at the hospital affiliated with the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. Evaluations were performed using the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) and a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Most patients were women (82%), 48% had a moderate binge eating disorder, 42% a severe binge eating disorder, 32% had symptoms suggestive of mild, moderate or severe depression and 6% had suicidal ideation. Severe binge eating was positively associated with depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). Cases of severe binge eating were more frequent in young adults, but not necessarily associated with symptoms of depression or suicidal ideation in this portion of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings underscore the need for psychological and psychiatric follow-up of obese candidates for bariatric surgery using appropriate assessment scales to guide therapeutic approaches. LEVEL III: Evidence obtained from cross-sectional study. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40519-023-01533-8.