The first gastric bypass operation was performed in 1993, and by 2008 an estimated 200,000 such operations were performed in the US. Gastric bypass surgery helps severely obese patients lose weight by forcing changes in diet and nutrition on the recipient of the procedure. Following the surgery, patients can consume only liquids, then progress to soft and eventually to solid foods. Gastric bypass patients must make long-term changes to their diets and lifestyle to keep the weight off.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery, also called a Roux-en-Y anastomosis or RNY, provides severely obese patients with tools to help them lose weight and keep it off. The procedure involves dividing the stomach with staples to create an egg-sized pouch and rerouting the digestive system to bypass part of the small intestines. According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons of Virginia, the procedure facilitates weight loss by limiting the amount of food the patient can take in at one sitting, blocking the absorption of some calories, and causing food intolerances that help the patient avoid certain undesirable foods. Because of these changes to the patient's anatomy, she must make long-term dietary changes to maintain weight loss and promote health.
Protein
After a gastric bypass, your nutritional requirements will change. A normal healthy adult needs 46 to 56 g of protein per day, but you will need 60 to 80 g per day to prevent lean muscle loss, says Linda Aills, R.D., lead researcher in a study published in the September 2008 issue of "Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases." In order to meet these increased needs, choose lean meats, fish, poultry, beans, soy and nonfat dairy products high in protein. At each meal, eat your protein first to ensure that you consume enough before adding other foods. If you cannot consume enough protein by eating, you may use protein shakes to meet your daily goals.
Fruits and Vegetables
Your surgeon will instruct you to make healthy food choices rich in vitamins and minerals to maintain your health. Eat plenty of vegetables, especially non-starchy ones, as well as fruits that do not have high levels of sugar. Because your food bypasses part of the small intestine after surgery, some nutrients no longer absorb efficiently and you will need to take supplements -- multivitamins, calcium citrate with vitamin D, iron, B complex vitamins and vitamin B12 -- for the rest of your life.
Grains
Unless instructed otherwise, eat whole grain breads, cereals and other grains to increase the fiber in your diet. Avoid refined bread products and cereals that are high in carbohydrates or fat; these include pastries, white rice, pies, cakes and ice cream. Instead, choose brown rice, whole grain bread and whole grain cereals that digest more slowly.
Diet Principles
Your surgery will not cure obesity. Instead, it serves as a weight loss tool that limits the amount of food you can eat at one sitting and blocks some calorie absorption. To maintain your weight loss, eat three small meals a day and stop when you feel full. Eat only solid food at meals but drink at least eight glasses of water a day between meals. Foods high in sugar or fat do not digest well after gastric bypass surgery, so eating them will cause a condition called dumping syndrome that produces diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and pain for several hours. Choose a well-balanced diet of healthy foods for long-term weight loss success.
References
- ASMBS Virginia: Life After Surgery
- ASMBS: ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient
- Houston Surgical Specialists: Gastric Bypass/Gastric Sleeve Diet
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology: Gastric Bypass Diet
- DukeHealth.org: The Recommended Diet Following Bariatric Surgery
- IHaveNet.com: Full Without Food -- Drug Therapy May Someday Replace Obesity Surgery
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