Gastric bypass surgery involves a number of lifestyle changes which begin immediately after the procedure is completed. Diet changes are essential to ensure safe and effective results over the long term. Patients may notice that the primary dietary adjustment involves the reduction of food intake due to a smaller stomach size. Patients may feel satisfied after eating smaller meals which is part of what enables gradual weight loss.
After a gastric bypass, the stomach’s size is able to contain about one ounce of food at any given time. As time progresses, the stomach will gradually stretch until it can hold about four to five ounces or about 1/2 to 1 cup of food at a time. The size of the opening created in the stomach and small intestine is also reduced to about 1/4 inch wide, which slows the rate in which food is emptied from the stomach into the small intestine.
Working very closely with a physician and dietitian to ensure that weight loss is safe and successful is the healthiest way to adjust to the operation. A simple and regular exercise regimen is often recommended to create a better self-image and a whole new attitude to food. Patients may reap great rewards from the procedure with a positive mindset, committed goals which involve healthier consumption, and a routine that focuses on weight loss and nutrition.
Significant weight loss in a short amount of time may occur when dietary changes are made, however gradual weight loss over time may also be normal. Each patient should be aware of their body, its unique rhythms, and be patient with the process of change. Foods high in protein and nutrition are recommended while foods high in fat, fiber, calories, and sugar are to be avoided to promote weight loss and healing of the body post-surgery. It is vital that important vitamins and minerals are provided as nutritional supplements. Discussing which vitamins and minerals must be taken to support health after the procedure is very important. Each patient should be very clear on what is required of them each day to maintain their health.
Protein is a vital part of the tissue rebuilding process and getting adequate amounts of protein assists with healing the body after surgery, as well as supports muscle preservation. Foods that are high in sugar should be avoided to maintain a focus on healthier eating habits and consuming foods that have higher nutrient levels. Foods that have excess sugar also may cause “dumping” or food moving prematurely from the stomach into the small intestine. This causes a combination of nausea, uncomfortable fullness, distention in the stomach, cramping, diarrhea, weakness, sweating, and a fast heart rate.
Patients that wish to maintain the most positive and beneficial results from surgery may commit to healthier foods that have real nutritional value, such as plenty of fresh organic vegetables and fruits, plenty of healthy protein rich foods, such as fish or tempeh, and plenty of water. Each patient’s specific dietary needs and tastes will differ. Avoiding foods that are high in sugar and which are not nutrient rich is an important part of the weight loss process and makes recovering from surgery easier.
Foods that are high in fat may be challenging for the body to digest after gastric bypass surgery. Reflux, or the back-up of stomach acid and food into the esophagus, may occur while the body digests. This is usually more common when eating foods that are higher in fat and may cause heartburn. Foods that are higher in fat may also induce diarrhea, nausea, or stomach discomfort. It is thus important to be fully aware of the ingredients of food consumed, the nutritional value, and how it may impact the body while it is digested. Since gastric bypass surgery changes how the body digests, what is consumed must also be changed to reflect a commitment to the entire weight loss process.
Foods that are high in fiber should also be limited after a gastric bypass surgery. With less space in the stomach, there is less gastric acid present which helps with the digestion of fibrous foods. Fibrous foods may also block the new passageway through the stomach which interferes with an already limited opening in the small intestine.
Maintaining adequate levels of vitamins and minerals in the body after surgery is one of the most important aspects of how the diet will change. Due to greater limitations on what may be consumed, patients must pay extra attention to what they are consuming and remain flexible and open to trying foods that are high in nutrition that may be new to them. Since very small amounts of food may be ingested at any given time, it is more challenging to maintain proper nutrition levels and great care must be exercised. Iron, folate, vitamin B-12, and calcium are some of the most affected nutrients which must be supplemented to ensure health.
After surgery, the prescribed diet will unfold in stages from liquids only to small meals comprised of soft, high-protein foods. Meals must be much smaller than normal and each meal must be smooth in texture. During each stage post-surgery, it is especially important to drink enough water, and to take vitamin and mineral supplements. The first stage of the diet incorporates plenty of clear liquids- this generally lasts for a day or two after the operation. The clear liquid stage begins with sips of water, and can gradually incorporate sugar free beverages, such as teas, or other sugar free alternatives which are not carbonated. Bouillon or clear broth may then be ingested, usually two to three ounces at a time.
Once it’s established that the patient can tolerate clear liquids, the diet may advance to high-protein liquids such as meal replacement drinks. This stage ideally begins before the patient is discharged from the hospital and lasts for one to two weeks. Some healthy meal replacement drinks or mixes that are high in nutrition may be found at a local health food store and brought into the hospital prior to the surgery. Most patients begin taking chewable multivitamin/ mineral supplements at this point.
Physicians and patients may then discuss the next dietary stage and the physician will ultimately approve soft meals or puréed foods. Patients may be able to begin this stage at home after about two weeks of recovery time. Some may need to wait longer, which is not unusual. The purée diet must include very soft, high-protein foods like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, or lean meats like fish which are blended up to a softer consistency. Some people may find it convenient to use strained baby foods.
The last stage, which involves long term diet change, usually begins about two months after surgery. This includes vegetables, fruits, protein-rich foods, and foods high in nutritional value. Start with high-protein foods, like lean meats, fish, tempeh, or soy milk at every meal. Each meal or snack should be small, with liquids consumed between meals. A surgeon will usually recommend the care of a dietitian for advice to plan a regular diet pattern that is specifically tailored to the patient’s needs.
Excess body weight is known to interfere with healthy cardiovascular function which can result in high blood pressure. This may lead to increased risk of stroke and can cause heart and kidney damage over time. Evidence has shown that age-related lifetime risk of hypertension in men and women ages 45 to 54 may double as their average BMI increases from 25 to 35.7. While hypertension can occur regardless of age, gender, or body mass, it is a serious health risk for obese individuals.
Bariatric surgery may reduce excess body weight over time which helps to alleviate excess strain on the cardiovascular system. Changes that occur in diet and exercise routines post-operation may lead to significant improvements in overall health and help to lessen hypertension symptoms and other cardiovascular health risks. Studies have shown reductions in total cholesterol and LDL levels and increased HDL levels. Even a weight loss of 10 percent can lower blood pressure significantly.
Bariatric surgery may also alleviate type 2 diabetes which is a long-term metabolic disorder that involves overproduction and resistance to insulin. Insulin is necessary for the break down of sugar and for the control of healthy blood sugar levels. While type 2 diabetes may occur regardless of age, gender, or body mass, the disease tends to be more severe in obese individuals.
Patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery had lower insulin resistance. Their risk for metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high amounts of fat in the blood is also reduced. Many gastric bypass surgery patients with type 2 diabetes have demonstrated little or no need to continue using diabetic pharmaceuticals post-surgery due to the drastic changes to stress on the body, which is reduced via weight loss.
Sleep apnea and trouble with respiratory health may also be alleviated with weight loss surgery. Many patients that suffer from obesity notice a marked increase in respiratory illness and stress which can exacerbate sleep apnea, snoring, difficulty breathing, and asthma. Through healthy weight loss, the excess stress placed on the entire respiratory tract is reduced. This means sounder and safer sleep for the patient and family members as well as greater mobility, as the body can support its own respiratory needs even better over time.
This list of benefits is not exhaustive and every patient has unique circumstances and may benefit from weight loss surgery in unique ways. Discussing what weight loss may do for you with an experienced weight loss surgeon may offer reliable information which can better outline both the risks and benefits associated with bariatric procedures.
