Bariatric Diet Information

Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, includes a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese. Weight loss is achieved in one of three ways, either by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device, through removal of a portion of the stomach, or by re-attaching and re-routing the small intestines to a small stomach pouch. Long-term studies show that just a few of the positive results of bariatric weight loss surgery include:

• Significant long-term loss of weight
• Recovery from diabetes
• Improvement in cardiovascular risk factors
• Reduction in mortality

With such positive effects on the overall health of its recipients, it’s no wonder that bariatric weight loss surgery has gained popularity among medical professionals for the last two decades.

Pre Bariatric Diets

One of the biggest challenges facing patients who choose to undergo a bariatric weight loss procedure is the diet restriction they are placed under before and after the procedure. Pre Bariatric diets consist of mild foods similar to those recommended for post Bariatric diets. Mild food is recommended to prepare the stomach for surgery because it doesn’t require high levels of powerful digestive enzymes to break it down.

Post Bariatric Diet Plan

Immediately after bariatric weight loss surgery, the patient is restricted to a clear liquid food diet free from all solids. This diet is continued until the gastrointenstinal tract has recovered somewhat from the surgery. The next stage of diet foods provide blended or pureed sugar-free meals for at least two weeks. Post-surgery, overeating is curbed because exceeding the capacity of the stomach causes nausea and vomiting. Diet food restrictions after recovery from surgery depend in part on the type of weight loss surgery. Many patients will need to take a daily multivitamin pill for life to compensate for the absence of essential nutrients absorbed from food.

Bariatric Meal Plan

Because patients cannot eat a large quantity of food, plan on diets high in protein and low in fat. Today patients are able to follow a food plan provided by any number of nutritionists that specialize in creating a meal plan specifically for their use. A bariatric meal plan includes delicious diet foods that follow strict guidelines of pre and post bariatric surgery diets. A bariatric foods plan is a great tool for patients as each plan includes simple, delicious diet foods that follow bariatric nutritional guidelines. Each bariatric plan is designed to aid patients on their road to a healthy weight for years to come.