Weight-loss patients, which usually means obese or overweight patients who undergo a procedure such as gastric bypass surgery, must keep in mind various issues relating to nutrition and exercise. Although such patients might end up with a better chance to maintain a healthy weight than they would otherwise have had, subsequent diet and exercise choices are crucial to making the procedure a long-term success.
Facts
Surgery eliminates up to 60 to 70 percent of weight-loss patients' excess weight based on several factors, according to an article by the American Diabetes Association. One such factor is patients' capacity for increased physical activity as a result of initially losing weight. Patients who do not exercise regularly likely will regain much of the weight they lost, according to the article. Other factors include patients' lower calorie consumption, which results from their smaller stomach capacity, and reduced appetite.
Significance
Exercise is relevant after a surgical procedure for weight-loss patients who may need or want to undergo body-contouring procedures. According to a paper by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, a lower body mass index at the time of body contouring operations, through exercise and possibly diet as well, can substantially improve surgical options and results. The paper concluded that frequent exercise especially is useful in such situations, while the effects of dietary factors are less clear.
Eating Habits
The American Diabetes Association lists several factors relating to dietary habits that determine whether weight-loss patients experience success over the long term. Since they have less capacity for calorie consumption in any sitting, they must eat frequent, healthy meals throughout the day to avoid calorie deficits. A deficit may cause a patient's metabolism to go into starvation mode and preserve calories rather than burn them. Patients also should take small bites and chew their food slowly to avoid regurgitating the food, which may harm their nutrition intake and health in general.
Food Choices
The American Diabetes Association goes on to name specific foods that weight-loss patients should emphasize in their diets after surgery. Patients should focus on eating the recommended daily servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to ensure they get sufficient quantities of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Also, patients should eat 60 to 80 g of protein daily, both for general nutrition and to promote wound healing following surgery. Nuts and dairy products may be the best choices because patients may have trouble digesting red meat and protein.
Patients also need to avoid sweets, desserts and other foods that are high in sugar, not just because of weight concerns, but because such foods may largely bypass the stomach and enter the small intestine with minimal digestion. Nausea and vomiting may be among the results.
Exercise Requirements
The American Diabetes Association recommends at least 35 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per day and three weight-training sessions per week for weight-loss patients. This level of activity helps keep patients' metabolic rates at a high enough level to maintain a healthy weight. This consideration is not just about keeping down body fat; if patients have difficulty eating well after surgery, they may have trouble maintaining muscle tone. Weight training helps reduce the deterioration of muscle.
Nonsurgical Considerations
If you urgently need to lose weight, you may opt to try nonsurgical methods under the guidance of a health care professional. Essentially, this approach refers to a regimen of diet and exercise, much like the kind normal-weight individuals also should follow. Exercise at the start of a program might comprise 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense activity per week, typically spread over three days. The nutritional component of a program involves reducing calories while ensuring you consume sufficient quantities of nutrients for energy, endurance and overall health. Fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources are cornerstones.
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