The change of food preference after bariatric surgery is an important factor affecting postoperative weight loss. It is particularly important to assess the specific characteristics and predictive factors of food preference changes after the surgery. It is difficult to guide postoperative weight maintenance based on the large variability in results between available studies.

To investigate the characteristics of food preference change and its effect on weight loss outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, and to analyze the predictive factors of food preference change.

A convenient sampling method was used to select 245 patients undergoing bariatric surgery who were admitted to Outpatient Weight Loss Follow-up Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from February to August, 2022. The self-developed General Demographic Questionnaire, Weight Loss Outcome Questionnaire and Food Preference Change Features after Bariatric Surgery were used to collect relevant data. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the effects of changes of food preference after bariatric surgery on the weight loss outcome. Univariate analysis and disordered multi-class Logistic regression were performed to analyze the predictive factors of food preference changes after bariatric surgery.

Two hundred and thirty-seven (96.7%) patients who returned responsive questionnaires were finally enrolled, and 97.0% of them had food preference changes after bariatric surgery. Patients with and without changes in food preferences after bariatric surgery had statistically significant differences in postoperative weight, body mass index drop value and total weight loss percentage (P<0.05) . Disordered multi-class Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative time was the predictor of changes in preferences of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for vegetables and fruits (P<0.05) ; marital status and preoperative comorbidities were predictors of changes in preference of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for high-quality protein foods (P<0.05) ; place of residence (northern or southern China) was the predictor of changes in preference of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for spicy foods (P<0.05) ; gender, place of residence and bariatric surgery methods were predictors of changes in preferences of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for salty snacks (P<0.05) ; gender and bariatric surgery methods were predictors of changes in preferences of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for high-fat meat (P<0.05) ; gender and postoperative time were predictors of changes in preferences of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for sweet food (P<0.05) ; gender and bariatric surgery methods were predictors of changes in preferences of patients undergoing bariatric surgery for sweet drinks (P<0.05) .

The incidence of food preference changes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery is high, showing a decrease in their preference for high calorie foods and an increase in their preference for healthy foods. Gender, marital status, place of residence, preoperative comorbidities, bariatric surgery methods, and postoperative time are predictors of various food preference changes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Weight loss professionals should identify the target population at early stage, pay more attention to postoperative dietary education and guidance for patients, in order to improve the postoperative dietary experience and effectively ensure the effect of bariatric surgery.