FOOD ADDICTION AND ADULT ADHD SYMPTOMS AMONG BARIATRIC SURGERY CANDIDATES: ARE THEY ASSOCIATED WITH POORER QUALITY OF LIFE?

"Background and objective: Both food addiction (FA) and adult ADHD symptomatology have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL), which in turn may affect bariatric surgery outcomes in the context of severe obesity. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between FA, ADHD symptomatology and QOL in the specific population of bariatric surgery candidates. Method: Three hundred and twenty-two adult bariatric surgery candidates were recruited during the systematic preoperative psychiatric assessment. The participants completed questionnaires assessing body mass index (BMI), QOL (QOL-Obesity, and Dietetics rating scale, QOLOD), FA (YFAS 2.0), and adult ADHD symptoms (ASRS). Results: Prevalence for FA and significant adult ADHD symptoms were 26.7% and 9% respectively. All QOL dimensions were negatively correlated with FA and adult ADHD symptoms. The age, the ASRS, and YFAS 2.0 scores independently predicted the QOL score. The participants with FA had significantly lower QOL scores on the five dimensions of the QOLOD. The participants with adult ADHD symptoms had significantly lower scores on the physical and psycho-social QOL dimensions only. Discussion: This study supports the hypothesis of FA and ADHD symptoms are associated with poorer QOL, in bariatric surgery candidates. Because they affect QOL and poorer surgery outcomes, investigation, and management of FA and ADHD symptoms may be interesting clinical interventions."