Lab Publications


Below is a selection of publications by members of the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Lab.  Click on the links to learn more about the studies.

Journal Special Issues

  1. Cassin, S. E., & Sockalingam, S. (Editors) (2021).  The clinical utility of food and eating addiction.  Nutrients.  https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/clinical_food_eating_addiction

Select Publications

  1. Park, K. E., Reid, R., Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., Wnuk, S. (2026). A longitudinal study exploring the influence of weight bias internalization and experiences of perceived discrimination on pathological eating among bariatric surgery patients. Obesity Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-026-08651-z
  2. Roorda, B. A., Molnar, M., & Cassin, S. E. (2026). “What I eat in a day”: The effect of social media’s diet messaging on body image and dieting intentions. Dietetics, 5(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics5010008
  3. Santiago, V. A., & Cassin, S. E. (2026). The MotivATE randomized controlled trial: Treating food addiction with adapted motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy versus a waitlist control condition. Journal of Eating Disorders, 14, 56.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01522-5
  4. Tahir, U., Park, K., Cassin, S. E., & Sockalingam, S. (2025). Moving towards precision-based care in bariatric surgery: Predictors of response to telephone cognitive behavioral therapy. Obesity Surgery, 35, 5462-5470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-025-08377-4
  5. Cassin, S. E., Park, K., Leung, S. E., Ma, C., Tomlinson, G., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Jackson, T., Urbach, D., Okrainec, A., Brown, J., Sandre, D., & Sockalingam, S. (2025). A randomized controlled trial examining telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for patients after metabolic and bariatric surgery: 18-month follow-up results. Obesity Surgery, 35, 4103-4113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-025-08163-2
  6. Molnar, M., Snaychuk, L., & Cassin, S. E. (2025). What is the effect of attributing disordered eating behaviours to food addiction versus binge eating disorder? An experimental study comparing the impact on weight-based and mental illness stigma. Nutrients, 17(13), 2217. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132217
  7. Montemarano, V., Firasta, L., Deska, J., & Cassin, S. E. (2025). The effect of a counter-attitudinal advocacy intervention on reducing weight-based stigma.  Clinical Obesity, 15, e70024. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.70024
  8. Roorda, B., & Cassin, S. E. (2025). A review of food-related social media and its relationship to body image and disordered eating. Nutrients, 17, 342. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020342
  9. Choma, B., Cassin, S. E., Montemarano, V., Piazza, B., & Harrison, C. (2024). Women’s well-being postpartum: The role of self-objectification and self-compassion. Sex Roles, 90, 1430-1443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01516-8
  10. Sockalingam, S., Leung, S. E., Clement, M., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Jackson, T., Urbach, D., Brown, J., Sandre, D., & Cassin, S. E. (2023). Telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for weight loss, disordered eating, and psychological distress after bariatric surgery: A multisite randomized clinical trial. JAMA Open, 6(8), e2327099. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.27099
  11. Nightingale, B. A., & Cassin, S. E. (2023). Self-compassion may have benefits for body image among women with a higher body mass index and internalized weight bias. Healthcare, 11(7), 970.  https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11070970
  12. Leung, S. E., Daliri, V., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2023). Mental health outcomes in revisional versus primary bariatric surgery patients: A matched case control study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 170, 111335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111335
  13. Sockalingam, S., Leung, S. E., Agic, B., Ma, C., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Dash, S., Jackson, T., Akbar, N., Forhan, M., & Cassin, S. E. (2022).  Randomized controlled trial of telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for post-operative bariatric surgery patients to manage COVID-19 pandemic related mental health and distress (Tele-Baricare): Study protocol. BMJ Open, 12, e067393. https://doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2022-067393
  14. Santiago, V. A., & Cassin, S. E. (2022). Social and occupational impairment among individuals with ultra-processed food addiction. Current Addiction Reports, 9, 307-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-022-00416-9
  15. Sockalingam, S., Leung, S. E., Ma, C., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Dash, S., Jackson, T., & Cassin, S. E. (2022). The impact of telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy on mental health distress and disordered eating among bariatric surgery patients during COVID-19: Preliminary results from a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Obesity Surgery, 32, 1884-1894. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-05981-6
  16. Starick, E., Montemarano, V., & Cassin, S. E. (2021).  Coping during COVID-19: The impact of cognitive appraisal on problem orientation, coping behaviours, and body image during the pandemic.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 11305. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111305
  17. Youssef, A., Maunder, R., Wiljer, D., Mylopoulos, M., Wnuk, S., Cassin, S., Leung, S., & Sockalingam, S. (2021).  Understanding bariatric patients’ experiences of self-management post-surgery.  Clinical Obesity, 11(5), e12473. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12473
  18. Youssef, A., Cassin, S. E., Wnuk, S., Leung, S., Jackson, T., & Sockalingam, S. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on bariatric patients’ self-management post-surgery.  Appetite, 162, 105166.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105166
  19. Montemarano, V. & Cassin, S. E. (2021).  The effect of a food addiction explanatory model of eating behaviours on weight-based stigma: An experimental investigation.  Eating Behaviours, 41, 101507.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101507
  20. Santiago, V., A., Cassin, S. E., Wnuk, S., Du, C., Hawa, R., Parikh, S. V., & Sockalingam, S. (2021).  “If you’re offered help, take it”: Bariatric patients’ experience of telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy. Clinical Obesity, 11(2), e12431.  https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12431
  21. Cassin, S. E., & Sockalingam, S.  (2021).  Advances and future directions in the clinical utility of food addiction.  Nutrients, 13, 708.  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020708
  22. Atwood, M., Cassin, S. E., Rajaratnam, T., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2021).  The Bariatric Interprofessional Psychosocial Assessment of Suitability Scale (BIPASS) predicts binge eating, quality of life, and weight regain following surgery.  Clinical Obesity, 11(1), e12421.  https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12421
  23. Bellissimo, N., Fansabedian, T., Wong, V., Totosy de Zepetnek, J. O., Brett, N. R., Schwartz, A., Cassin, S. E., Suitor, K., & Rousseau, D. (2020).  Effect of increasing the dietary protein content of breakfast on subjective appetite, short-term food intake, and diet-induced thermogenesis in children.  Nutrients, 12, 3025.  https://doi.10.3390/nu12103025   
  24. Cassin, S. E., Leung, S. E., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Jackson, T., & Sockalingam, S.  (2020).  Food addiction is associated with binge eating and psychiatric distress among post-operative bariatric surgery patients and may improve in response to cognitive behavioural therapy.  Nutrients, 12, 2905.  https://doi:10.3390/nu12102905
  25. Sockalingam, S., Leung, S., Wnuk, S., Cassin, S. E., Yanofsky, R., & Hawa, R. (2020).  Psychiatric management of bariatric surgery patients: A review of psychopharmacological and psychological treatments and their impact on post-operative mental health and weight outcomes.   Psychosomatics, 61(5), 498-507.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2020.04.011
  26. Sockalingam, S. Leung, S. E., & Cassin, S. E. (2020).  The impact of COVID-19 on bariatric surgery: Redefining psychosocial care.  Obesity, 28(6), 1010-1012. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22836
  27. Hawkins, M., Leung, S., Lee, A., Wnuk, S., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2020).  Psychiatric medication use and weight outcomes one-year after bariatric surgery.  Psychosomatics, 61(1), 56-63.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2019.10.009
  28. David, L. A., Sijercic, I., & Cassin, S. E. (2020).  Pre- and post-operative psychosocial interventions for bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review.  Obesity Reviews, 21(4), e12926. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12926
  29. Cassin, S. E., Sijercic, I., & Montemarano, V. (2020).  Psychosocial interventions for food addiction: A systematic review.  Current Addiction Reports, 7(1), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00295-y
  30. Costa-Dookhan, K. A., Leung, S., Cassin, S. E., & Sockalingam, S. (2020).  Predictors of response to telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy in bariatric surgery patients.  Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 44(3), 236-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2019.06.008
  31. Leung, S., Wnuk, S., Jackson, T., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2019).  Prospective study of attachment as a predictor of binge eating, emotional eating, and weight loss two years after bariatric surgery.  Nutrients, 11(7), 1625. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071625
  32. Sockalingam, S., Leung, S. E., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Parikh, S. V., Jackson, T., & Cassin, S. E. (2019).  Telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for patients 1-year post bariatric surgery: A pilot study.  Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 13(5), 499-504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2019.07.003   
  33. Kantarovich, K., Wnuk, S., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2019).  Employment outcomes two years after bariatric surgery: Relationship to quality of life and psychosocial predictors.  Obesity Surgery, 29(9), 2854-2861.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-019-03905-5
  34. Nightingale, B. A., & Cassin, S. E. (2019).  Disordered eating among individuals with excess weight: A review of recent literature.  Current Obesity Reports, 8(2), 112-127.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-019-00333-5
  35. Cassin, S. E., Buchman, D. Z., Leung, S. E., Kantarovich, K., Hawa, A., Carter, A., & Sockalingam, S. (2019).  Ethical, stigma, and policy implications of food addiction: A scoping review. Nutrients, 11(4), 701. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040710  
  36. Nasirzadeh, Y., Kantarovich, K., Wnuk, S., Okrainec, A., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2018).  Postoperative binge eating, loss of control eating, emotional eating, and night eating after bariatric surgery and their impact on weight outcomes: Results from the Toronto Bari-PSYCH cohort study.  Obesity Surgery, 28(7), 2032-2039. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3137-8
  37. Mehak, A., Friedman, A., & Cassin, S. E. (2018).  Body shame and appearance anxiety mediate the relationships between self-objectification, weight bias internalization and binge eating in young women. Body Image, 24, 111-115.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.002
  38. Atwood, M. E., Friedman, A., Meisner, B. A., & Cassin, S. E. (2018). The exchange of social support on bariatric surgery online discussion forums: A mixed-methods content analysis.  Health Communication, 33(5), 628-635. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1289437
  39. Sockalingam, S., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Santiago, V., Kowgier, M., Jackson, T., Okrainec, A., & Cassin, S. E. (2017).  Psychosocial predictors of quality of life and weight loss two years after bariatric surgery: Results from the Toronto Bari-PSYCH study.  General Hospital Psychiatry, 47, 7-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.005
  40. Bar, R. J., Cassin, S. E., & Dionne, M. M. (2017).  The long-term impact of an eating disorder prevention program for professional ballet students: A 15-year follow-up study.  Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 25(5), 375-387. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2017.1308731
  41. Sockalingam, S., Cassin, S. E., Wnuk, S., Du, C., Jackson, T., Hawa, R., & Parikh, S. (2017).  A pilot study on telephone cognitive behavioural therapy for patients six months post-bariatric surgery. Obesity Surgery, 27(3), 670-675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2322-x
  42. MacDonald, D. E., & Cassin, S. E. (2017). Nondieting psychological interventions for individuals who are overweight or obese: A systematic review of the evidence.  Psychopathology Review, 4(3), 290-318. https://doi.org/10.5127/pr.037014
  43. Thiara, G., Yanofsky, R., Abdul-Kader, S., Santiago, V. A., Cassin, S. E., Okrainec, A., Jackson, T., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2016).  Toronto Bariatric Interprofessional Psychosocial Assessment Suitability Scale (BIPASS TM): Evaluating a new clinical assessment tool for bariatric surgery candidates.  Psychosomatics, 57(2), 165-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2015.12.003
  44. David, L., Sockalingam, S., Wnuk, S., & Cassin, S. E. (2016).  A pilot randomized controlled trial examining the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of adapted motivational interviewing for post-operative bariatric surgery patients.  Eating Behaviors, 22, 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.03.030
  45. Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., Du, C., Wnuk, S., Hawa, R., & Parikh, S. (2016).  A pilot randomized controlled trial of telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for preoperative bariatric surgery patients.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 80, 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2016.03.001
  46. Bar, R. J., Cassin, S. E., Dionne, M. M. (2016). Eating disorder prevention initiatives in athletes: A review. European Journal of Sport Science, 16(3), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1013995
  47. Zhang, M. W., Ho, R. C., Cassin, S. E., & Sockalingam, S. (2015).  Online and smartphone based cognitive behavioural therapy for bariatric surgery patients: Initial pilot study.  Technology and Health Care, 23(6), 737-744. https://doi.org/10.3233/THC-151026
  48. Sockalingam, S., Wnuk, S., Kantarovich, K., Meaney, C., Okrainec, A., Hawa, R., & Cassin, S. E. (2015).  Employment outcomes one year after bariatric surgery: The role of patient and psychosocial factors.  Obesity Surgery, 25(3), 514 – 522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1443-3
  49. Azin, A., Zhou, C., Jackson, T., Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., & Hawa, R. (2014).  Body contouring surgery after bariatric surgery:  A study of cost as a barrier and impact on psychological well-being.  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 133(6), 776e-782e. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000000227
  50. Lyons, K., Meisner, B. A., Sockalingam, S., & Cassin, S. E. (2014).  Body image after bariatric surgery: A qualitative study.  Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, 9(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1089/bari.2014.0001
  51. Sockalingam, S., Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., Khan, A., Wnuk, S., & Okrainec, A. (2013).  Predictors of post-bariatric surgery appointment attendance: The role of relationship style.  Obesity Surgery, 23(12), 2026-2032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1009-9
  52. Nowakowski, M., McFarlane, T., & Cassin, S. E. (2013).  Alexithymia and eating disorders: A critical review of the literature.  Journal of Eating Disorders, 1, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-2974-1-21
  53. Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., Hawa, R., Wnuk, S., Royal, S., Taube-Schiff, M., & Okrainec, A. (2013).  Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a depression screening tool for bariatric surgery candidates. Psychosomatics, 54(4), 352-358.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2012.08.010
  54. Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., Wnuk, S., Strimas, R., Royal, S., Hawa, R. & Parikh, S. (2013).  Cognitive behavioural therapy for bariatric surgery patients: Preliminary evidence for feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 20(4), 529-543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2012.10.002
  55. Sockalingam, S., Cassin, S. E., Crawford, S., Pitzul, K., Khan, A., Hawa, R., Jackson, T., & Okrainec, A. (2013).  Psychiatric predictors of surgery non-completion following suitability assessment for bariatric surgery, Obesity Surgery, 23(2), 205-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-012-0762-5
  56. Cassin, S. E., von Ranson, K. M., Heng, K., Brar, J., & Wojtowicz, A. E. (2008).  Adapted motivational interviewing for women with binge eating disorder: A randomized controlled trial.  Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 22(3), 417-425. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-164X.22.3.417
  57. Cassin, S. E., & von Ranson, K. M. (2007).  Is binge eating experienced as an addiction?  Appetite, 49(3), 687-690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.06.012

Edited Books

  1. Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2018).  Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical and integrated approach.  Cambridge University Press.

Book Chapters

  1. Cassin, S. E., Montemarano, V., & Santiago, V. A. (2024). Psychosocial interventions for food addiction. In A. N. Gearhardt, K. D. Brownell, M. S. Gold, & M. N. Potenza (Eds.), Food and addiction: A comprehensive handbook (2nd ed., pp. 408-414). Oxford University Press. 
  2. Santiago, V. A., Cassin, S. E., Sockalingam, S., & Carter, A. C. (2022).  Food addiction and policy.  In V. B. Patel and V. R.  Preedy (Eds.), Handbook of substance misuse and addictions: From biology to public health.  Springer Nature.
  3. Sogg, S., Atwood, M. E., & Cassin, S. E.  (2018).  The role of psychosocial interventions to support medical and surgical treatments for severe obesity.  In S. E. Cassin, S. Sockalingam, and R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical approach (pp. 18-41). Cambridge University Press.
  4. David, L. & Cassin, S. E.  (2018).  Motivational interviewing for behavioural and lifestyle changes in severe obesity.  In S. E. Cassin, S. Sockalingam, and R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical approach (pp. 79-104). Cambridge University Press.
  5. Friedman, A. & Cassin, S. E.  (2018).  Cognitive behavioural therapy for behavioural and lifestyle changes in severe obesity.  In S. E. Cassin, S. Sockalingam, and R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical approach (pp. 133-160). Cambridge University Press.
  6. Cassin, S. E., Mehak, A., & Sockalingam, S.  (2018).  Telephone based psychological interventions in severe obesity.  In S. E. Cassin, S. Sockalingam, and R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical approach (pp. 249-263). Cambridge University Press.
  7. Cassin, S. E., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2018).  An integrated psychological approach to obesity care. In S. E. Cassin, S. Sockalingam, and R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychological care in severe obesity: A practical approach (pp. 299-310). Cambridge University Press.
  8. Cassin, S. E., & Atwood, M. E. (2017).  Cognitive behavioural therapy for severe obesity.  In S. Sockalingam & R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychiatric care in severe obesity: An interdisciplinary guide to integrated care (pp. 245-256).  Springer.
  9. Cassin, S. E., & Friedman, A. (2017).  Weight-based stigma and body image in severe obesity.  In S. Sockalingam & R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychiatric care in severe obesity: An interdisciplinary guide to integrated care (pp. 93-105).  Springer.
  10. Taube-Schiff, M., David, L, & Cassin, S. E. (2017).  Motivational interviewing for severe obesity.  In S. Sockalingam & R. Hawa (Eds.), Psychiatric care in severe obesity: An interdisciplinary guide to integrated care (pp. 221-230).  Springer.
  11. Atwood, M. E., & Cassin, S. E. (2016).  Surgery for obesity and impact on disordered eating.  In T. Wade (Ed.), Encyclopedia of feeding and eating disorders.  New York, NY: Springer. 
  12. Atwood, M. E., David, L., & Cassin, S. E. (2016). Cognitive behavioural therapy for bariatric surgery patients. In R. Rajendram, C. Martin, & V. R. Preedy (Eds.), Pathophysiology of bariatric surgery: Metabolism, nutrition, procedures, outcomes and adverse effects. Academic Press.
  13. Cassin, S. E. & Geller, J. (2015).  Motivational interviewing in the treatment of disordered eating.  In H. Arkowitz, W. R. Miller, & S. Rollnick (Eds.), Motivational interviewing in the treatment of psychological problems (2nded, pp. 344-364).  Guilford Press.
  14. Cassin, S. E., & David, L. (2015).  Binge eating disorder.  In R. Cautin & S. Lilienfeld (Eds.), Encyclopedia of clinical psychology.  Wiley-Blackwell.
  15. Killeen, T. T., Cassin, S. E., & Geller, J. (2014).  Motivational interviewing in the treatment of addictions and eating disorders.  In T. D. Brewerton & A. Baker-Dennis (Eds.), Eating disorders, addictions, and substance use disorders: Research, clinical, and treatment perspectives (pp.491-507).  Springer.
  16. Geller, J., Srikameswaran, S., & Cassin, S. E. (2010).  Eating disorders and self-silencing: A function focused approach to treatment.  In D. C. Jack & A. Ali (Eds.), Cultural perspectives on women’s depression: Self-silencing, psychological distress, and recovery (pp. 381-398).  Oxford University Press.
  17. von Ranson, K. M., & Cassin, S. E. (2007).  Eating disorders and addiction: Theory and evidence.  In J. S. Rubin (Ed.), Eating disorders and weight loss research (pp.1-37).  Nova Science Publishers.