A consistent diet after surgery is important for Bariatric patients.
Bariatric Surgery for Severely Obese Individuals
Millions of Americans are considered morbidly obese. These are those whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds 35. Severely obese individuals are at greater risk of suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. While many try diet, exercise, behavioral modification, and sometimes drugs to shed the pounds, these alone often do not work for people who are morbidly obese. These patients may opt to undergo weight loss surgery.
Bariatric surgical procedures aid in weight loss because they restrict the amount of food held in the stomach. The most commonly performed bariatric surgical procedures performed in the United States are sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.
Diet Changes After Bariatric Surgery
After bariatric surgery, you are not able to eat the same way as you did before the procedure. In order to maintain long-term weight loss and to avoid nutritional deficiencies and complications, it’s important to strictly follow the dietary guidelines.
Foothills Weight Loss Specialists share general dietary guidelines patients should follow after bariatric surgery:
- Eat healthy foods
When it comes to weight loss, both the quality and quantity of food matters. Bariatric surgery may help in limiting the amount of food one could consume but this isn’t enough in maintaining weight loss and overall health. A person should not only watch the quantity, but also the quality of food he/she eats. - Focus on protein
Protein deficiency can be a problem for someone who has undergone bariatric surgery because of the limiting size of the stomach pouch. This is why it is important to focus on protein intake. Protein can be found in many foods, including poultry, lean cuts of meat, soy products, nuts, and legumes. - Make sure to keep the blood sugar level stable
Un-stabilized blood sugar levels can lead to unhealthy cravings. You can keep blood sugar level in check by avoiding simple carbohydrates and eating good source of carbs like vegetables and whole grain products in small portions. - Stay hydrated
It is important to remain hydrated after weight loss surgery. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can help prevent dehydration and could keep one in feeling full. - Only eat until you are full
When you continue to eat or drink even after feeling full, you put yourself at risk of overfilling the stomach pouch. This can eventually stretch the stomach which could lead to increased intake.
Bariatric surgery doesn’t just create changes that could affect how you consume food; it can also impact other areas in your lifestyle. So, it’s very important to be under the care of experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in handling the challenges associated with weight loss surgery.
Foothills Weight Loss Specialists of Knoxville has a multidisciplinary weight loss team that includes surgeons, a, bariatric coordinators, a patient advocate, a registered dietician, designated care coordinators and the patient. If you are interested in beginning the journey to weight loss surgery, we invite you to attend a free informational seminar. Call 865-984-3413 to register for the next session today!