Weight Control And Diet After A Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy, or surgery to remove the uterus, is a common procedure for the treatment of problems such as cancer, benign but painful fibroid tumors and endometriosis. Although many post-hysterectomy patients struggle with weight gain, it is not inevitable. You can reverse or even prevent it. Ask your doctor what dietary and exercise strategies will be safest and most beneficial for you.

Post-Hysterectomy Hormonal Changes

A post-hysterectomy woman ceases to menstruate. Yet if she still has one or both ovaries, she may go through the same monthly sequence of estrogen and progesterone that she did before surgery. However, her levels of these hormones will likely diminish. If both ovaries are removed, she experiences menopause abruptly, if she has not already gone through it. The book "Nutritional Concerns of Women" notes that the hormonal changes of menopause can stimulate greater cravings for sugary or fatty foods, while reducing lean muscle mass and thus causing a lower basal metabolic rate.

The Question of Weight Gain

Scientific research validates what many post-hysterectomy patients already know: Maintaining a healthy weight frequently becomes more difficult following the procedure. For example, according to a study reported in the May 2009 "Women's Health," women of premenopausal age who had hysterectomies, with or without ovarian removal, were more likely to gain weight than a similar group of non-hysterectomized women. Fully 32 percent of participants with hysterectomies gained weight, and 25 percent of this group gained 10 pounds or more.

Diet

According to "Nutritional Concerns of Women," all women need to eat "low...saturated fats and simple sugars, high...complex carbohydrates" along with plenty of vegetables and fruits; they also should emphasize vegetable over animal protein sources. However, post-hysterectomy women who wish to lose weight or prevent weight gain might need to reassess their daily intake of calories. Ask your physician or dietitian how many calories you should take in to achieve or maintain a healthy target weight and whether you should take calcium supplements or multivitamins. You also can ask about herbal supplements, such as red clover or black cohosh, which some women take to relieve hot flashes and other postmenopausal symptoms.

Exercise

In seeking a healthy target weight, ask your doctor about physical activity as well as diet. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends gradually starting or increasing forms of exercise that you already like or engage in. These could include walking, biking or gardening. A contributor to the post-hysterectomy support website HysterSister, who lost 50 pounds through walking, urges women to be patient. "No miracles here...And remember, positive self talk only."

Support

You may achieve more success if you join forces with others who also seek a healthier diet, physical activity routine and weight control. You can choose from a number of online support tools -- many of them free, and some with mobile device applications. These include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Physical Activity Guidelines, FitDay.com, ChooseMyPlate.gov and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's vegetarian alternative, the Power Plate. You might want to join an online community for post hysterectomy women, such as HysterSisters. To benefit from in-person support, regularly schedule fun exercise sessions and delicious, healthy meals with like-minded relatives or friends.