Bariatric Rewrite UK

Trigger Foods After Bariatric Surgery: Why They Take Control (and How to Take It Back)

Helen&Evie Season 1 Episode 12

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In this episode of The Bariatric Rewrite Podcast, Helen and Evie dive into the powerful world of trigger foods — the ones that spark cravings, hijack your brain’s reward system, and can even cause painful side effects after bariatric surgery.

They explore:

  • Why certain foods feel impossible to resist (hint: it’s not about willpower).
  • The difference between physical triggers (like dumping syndrome) and psychological triggers (like food noise or binge patterns).
  • How ultra-processed foods are engineered to light up the brain like addictive drugs.
  • The unique risks for bariatric patients and those on GLP-1s like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
  • Strategies to identify your own trigger foods and practical tools to break free.

If you’ve ever wondered why some foods make you feel completely out of control — and what you can do about it — this episode is for you.

Studies & References Mentioned

Here are links to the key research discussed:

Food addiction and brain reward circuitry post-bariatric surgery
• Ochner CN, Kwok Y, Conceição E, Pantazatos SP, Puma LM, Carnell S, Teixeira J, Hirsch J, Geliebter A. Selective reduction in neural responses to high calorie foods following gastric bypass surgery. Ann Surg. 2011;253(3):502–507.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21239974/

Ultra-processed foods engineered for hyperpalatability
• Moss M. Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us. Random House, 2013.
• Fazzino TL, Rohde K, Sullivan DK. Hyper-Palatable Foods: Development of a Quantitative Definition and Application to the US Food System Database. Obesity. 2019;27(11):1761–1768.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6820505/

Food addiction prevalence in bariatric patients
• Gerhard U, et al. Food addiction and bariatric surgery outcomes. Obes Surg. 2009;19:1381–1382.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19562428/

Slider foods linked to poorer weight loss outcomes
• Ochner CN, Teixeira J, Geary N, Asarian L, et al. Greater consumption of energy-dense “slider” foods after bariatric surgery is associated with less weight loss. Obes Rev. 2013;14(8):625–631.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23617878/

Out of sight, out of mind: visibility and intake
• Wansink B, Painter JE, Lee YK. The office candy dish: proximity’s influence on estimated and actual consumption. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2006;30(5):871–875.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16418755/

Highly processed foods activate brain reward pathways like addictive substances
• Volkow ND, Wise RA, Baler R. The dopamine motive system: implications for drug and food addiction. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017

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Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatment options. The experiences shared are personal and may not reflect every individual’s journey. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.