Relationship Between Preoperative Cognitive Functions and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Relationship Between Preoperative Cognitive Functions and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Summary/Abstract: Bariatric surgery is recognized as one of the most effective interventions in the treatment of obesity. Its success depends not only on weight loss and related biological factors, but also on psychological and cognitive aspects. This scoping review aims to systematically review empirical studies that examine the role of cognitive functions and processes assessed before surgery in predicting bariatric surgery outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was carried out using the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. In total, 11 studies that satisfied the established inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for analysis. The review was performed following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Analyses were structured using the population, concept, and context framework. Findings were organized under three main themes. First, individuals with lower performance in attention, memory, and executive functions tended to lose less weight after surgery, though this relationship was not consistently observed across all studies. Second, reduced cognitive functioning before surgery was associated with lower adherence to treatment-related behaviors such as attending medical appointments, maintaining dietary routines, and engaging in physical activity. Third, individuals with cognitive risk profiles, including symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or high impulsivity, were more likely to experience complications such as substance use, disordered eating, and psychosocial difficulties postoperatively. These findings suggest that preoperative cognitive functioning may influence not only physical outcomes but also behavioral and psychosocial adaptation following surgery.

• Details
• Contents