Nutrition and Weight Loss Surgery

By Ruth Rosa Lenox | October 11, 2009

Weight loss surgery alters the shape and size of the stomach pouch and many foods which you enjoy before WLS will no longer be appropriate for you. Therefore, it is important for you to follow the dietary and nutritional guidelines recommended by your doctor. The amount of each nutrient you need everyday is called the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and you have to follow that.

Good nutrition prior to surgery leads to effective wound healing, increases resistance to infection and lowers the mortality rate. Before WLS has been performed, the patient’s nutritional status must be improved by an appropriate dietary regimen to minimize surgical risks.

The nutrients that are considered important for a person undergoing surgery are:

Protein - needed to build and repair damaged tissues.
Carbohydrates and Fats - needed to spare protein and furnish energy.
Vitamins(Vitamin C,B and K ) - needed to healing wounds and promote blood clotting.
Minerals - needed to aid wound healing and permit hemoglobin synthesis to replace blood loss.

The objective of post-operative diet therapy is to replace body losses as soon as possible. Energy and protein are major factors in achieving wound healing. Sufficient fluid is needed to avoid dehydration. Minerals and other vitamins also play a vital role in the recovery.

Immediately after surgery, you will need a liquid diet – water, soup, juice, lowfat milk and cooked cereals– for a few days. Then you can progress to pureed foods for about a month while your stomach heals. You can then progress to easy-to-chew foods like cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and ground or canned meats like chicken, ham and fish. The post operative diet may be liquid, soft or of regular consistency, but it must be high in calories, protein, minerals and fluids.

Protein

Approximately 60–80 g of daily protein is recommended for nutritional adequacy and for wound healing after surgery. Protein is available in fish, eggs, and many plant-based foods, such as soy products, nuts, and legumes. Frequent visits to nutritionist are required in the first few months after surgery in order to ensure protein nutrition is optimal.

Fluid

There must be sufficient fluids to replace potential losses from vomiting, fever and preventing dehydration. Up to seven liters of fluid in a day may be needed. Dehydration can be very dangerous to overall health, and it can also lead to constipation and poor absorption of medications and nutrients. Many food such as soups, contribute to the fluids consumed.
Calories

If calorie intake is inadequate after WLS, protein will be used for energy rather than tissue rebuilding and wound healing.

Vitamins
Vitamin C is important to supply the cementing material of connective tissue, capillary walls and new tissue. Vitamin K is vital as it helps in blood clotting. Vitamin B complex functions as co-enzymes in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, the formation of hemoglobin, and the prevention of anemia. A daily dose of multivitamin with iron, B-complex supplement and calcium is needed for a patient after surgery for quick recovery.

Minerals

Minerals are of great importance in the replacement of electrolytes.

Consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in moderation

Patients after WLS should take fruits, vegetables and whole grains in a modified form to ensure adequacy of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Chopped fresh fruits can be taken with lowfat milk or soy milk in small quantities. Vegetables can be grated and added in soups and omelets. Steaming fruits and vegetables will also make meals easy to digest.

Early postoperative food capacity is usually about less than half a cup. Patients must learn to eat small meals of nutritious foods in a regular interval. Failure to modify this habit will result in poor nutrition and inadequate calorie intake.

To be truly successful after WLS, it requires lifelong changes in your eating habits in order to maintain losses and ensures that you are getting adequate nutrition with your limited food intake.

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Weight Loss Surgery Diet

6 Comments

By Peter Dan, October 12, 2009 @ 6:07 am

One of the very few good contents around about the post operation diet after a weight loss surgery
By Jennifer, October 13, 2009 @ 9:46 pm

Great post. Thanks for providing valuable information abut nutrition and its importance.
By John Albert, October 14, 2009 @ 3:43 am

Its good to know about diet.
By P. Wilson, October 14, 2009 @ 5:15 am

As I am considering weight loss surgery, this blog gives me enough idea about the benefits of nutrition before and after surgery. thanks.
By R R Agrawal, October 14, 2009 @ 11:51 pm

very informative and useful guidance for people
willing to reduce weight
By Geeta Sinha, October 25, 2009 @ 5:02 am

Its wonderful to know that so much can be achieved simply by the correct selection of diet.

Thank you Alma.