Post Surgery Weight Loss Diets Are Often Deficient
Citation: Nutritional deficiency of post-bariatric surgery body contouring patients: what every plastic surgeon should know. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 2008 Aug;122(2):604-13
The authors state that weight loss surgery, particularly gastric bypass surgery, is currently the most effective treatment for inducing sustainable weight loss in morbidly obese patients. However, little research or follow-up intervention has been targeted at ensuring a nutritionally adequate weight loss diet following bariatric surgery. This has resulted in nutritional deficiencies becoming common among surgery recipients.
Additionally, weight loss surgery recipients tend to hit a plateau in their weight loss, after which they “become candidates for body contouring surgery” and other elective cosmetic surgeries. The present study aimed to highlight the nutritional deficiencies often found in the post surgery weight loss diet as they relate to subsequent body contouring operations. To accomplish this, the authors performed an extensive search of the literature on bariatric surgery procedures and attempted to compile that information into a cohesive review.
Nutritional deficits in post surgery weight loss diets
The authors report that the literature to date points to a pervasive protein deficiency in patients’ post surgery weight loss diets, as well as numerous vitamin and mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies are especially pertinent given the delicate nature of the surgeries and the need for adequate healing after the procedures.
They conclude that plastic surgeons working with patients who have undergone weight loss surgery need to be aware of the nutritional aspects of their patients’ overall condition at the time of consultation. The nutritional deficiencies seen in these patients can be minimized fairly easily by reinforcing post-surgical eating guidelines and by prescribing nutritional supplements.
Nutritional deficiency leads to slow healing times and poor quality of wound healing. While the optimal post surgery weight loss diet and nutrient densities cannot be established given the current literature, certain nutrient requirements can be ascertained.
Helpful nutrients in the period following weight loss surgery
The average patient who has received weight loss surgery will likely benefit from the following supplements:
- Protein
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Arginine
- Glutamine
- Zinc
- Selenium
The authors state that each of these nutrients has been solidly established as playing a significant role in promoting wound healing and on enhancing immune system functioning. Ensuring that each of these nutrients is obtained from a post surgery weight loss diet is essential for proper healing and maintenance of surgery-induced weight loss.
Related weight loss diet research
Surgery Weight Loss Diet • August 2008