NUTRITION FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Proper nutrition for weight loss surgery is important. While dietary changes enhance weight loss after surgery, there are also other concerns. Your health and nutritional status should be closely monitored. This is due to the significant physical and metabolic changes which take place. Tests before, as well as follow-up nutrition, are critical.

How does nutrition and weight loss surgery work together?

Your dietitian and bariatric surgeon form a valuable team to help you achieve weight loss. Bariatric surgery changes the physical structure of your gastro-intestinal system. Your dietitian works with these physical changes after surgery. They can help prevent nutritional problems. They can also provide dietary education and the tools you need to help you sustain weight loss.

This has been clinically supported. A 2013 study showed higher proportions of patient success due to nutritional care. Bariatric patients who had nutritional counselling had at least a 5% drop in body mass index. This was more than patients who chose surgery alone. (1)

Can diet alone fix obesity?

Lifestyle changes remain the “first-line therapy for the treatment of obesity.” Yet dietitians accept that obesity is a chronic disease. They accept that for many obese patients, diet and exercise changes alone do not produce long term results.

The Dieticians Association of Australia (DAA) makes this statement:

“Gastrointestinal manipulation through bariatric surgery to date has proven the only reliable method for achieving substantial weight loss and for the long-term management of weight lost for the majority of those with obesity.” (2)

Why do I need a dietitian after obesity surgery?

The DAA have comprehensive guidelines for bariatric patient nutritional care. They encourage Australian dietitians to refer to these guidelines.

Your dietitian will monitor you prior to and after your surgery. What they monitor includes but is not limited to:

nutrition status.
blood glucose levels
organ function
endocrine system function

as well as

dietary counselling and planning for the days, months and years following your surgery.

The support of a dietitian during your bariatric surgery is so important. Your dietitian works with you to ensure your health and weight loss at each stage of your journey.

At Weight Loss Solutions Sunshine Coast, we strongly encourage working with a dietitian and we integrate our care with this health professional every step of the way. Our comprehensive approach is about offering surgery alongside changes to diet, psychology and exercise. This is because we believe a combined approach to losing weight has the best results.

Have you asked – what can I eat after bariatric surgery?

Or do you have concerns about diet before your surgery? Maybe you need more advice. You can have a confidential discussion about obesity surgery. We can fill you in on the diet, and lifestyle changes which might occur due to surgery. Most of all, we can decide together if bariatric surgery is right for you.

Contact a Sunshine Coast weight loss clinic near you.

Or view our procedures.

See more about weight loss surgery diet & nutrition:

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