The Importance of good nutrition post bariatric surgery
The Importance of good nutrition post bariatric surgery – Protein
Appropriate follow-up care after bariatric surgery is vital to maximise the chance of safe and successful outcomes. This includes a life-long commitment to behavioural change to support successful weight loss and ongoing weight management, with all aspects of behaviour and lifestyle being considered to ensure previous eating habits do not persist.
However, the body is now permanently compromised due to the restrictive levels of food intake possible, along with its reduced ability to process and absorb key nutrients. Add to this the fact that many patients are not nutritionally screened prior to the procedure and often, having spent years trying to manage their weight by restricting food intake via a variety of the diets, are already compromised with deficiencies established prior to any surgery.
This results in an estimated 30 – 70% of patients having nutritional deficiencies in as little as 6 to 12 months following surgery and this is at a time when the body requires additional nutrients to help to repair and recover.
Whilst a reduced or non-existent appetite may initially seem a benefit, this can prevent someone eating key nutrients needed post-surgery, and of particular importance is protein. The stress of any surgery increases the body’s need for protein, which provides the building blocks used by the body to heal surgical incisions. Not eating enough protein post-surgery can result in a longer recovery time, with a greater chance of complications. Protein helps to build and maintain muscle mass, therefore supporting metabolism, as the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism, aiding weight loss goals, and it also helps to keep your skin, hair, bones and nails healthy.
Your body’s ability to absorb protein will not be as efficient as it was before surgery and so introducing a quality, highly absorbable powdered protein supplement will be needed, especially in the initial months after surgery.
