Telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy (tele-CBT) delivered 1 year after bariatric surgery is associated with improvements in disordered eating and psychological distress, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Sanjeev Sockalingam, MD, and colleagues examined the impact of a tele-CBT intervention 1 year after bariatric surgery on weight loss, disordered eating, and psychological distress among 306 adults randomly assigned to tele-CBT or standard care. There were no significant differences between the groups for total weight loss. However, binge eating, emotional eating, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly lower in the tele-CBT group across all times. The findings support a shift in obesity care to “health and [QOL] outcomes rather than weight loss alone,” Dr. Sockalingam and colleagues wrote. “Our tele-CBT intervention had a high retention rate as a virtual intervention to support patients after bariatric surgery and may have the potential to address weight regain long term by mitigating disordered eating and mental health risks factors.”
