Nutrition Therapy
All patients must go to a pre-operative Nutrition
Class. This class will educate the patient about
both the diet after surgery, and nutrition supplements.
Goals of Nutrition Therapy for the gastric bypass
patient:
- To prevent nutritional deficiencies from reduced
intake and absorption.
- To prevent or alleviate discomfort or intolerance
to foods.
- To promote safe and successful weight loss.
- To teach eating and lifestyle behaviors to
achieve and maintain a desirable body weight.
It is important to follow nutritional guidelines
to enhance weight loss. Avoiding the following
will help with weight loss:
- Eating high fat items such as chips, nuts,
fried, and most processed foods.
- Calorie-dense foods (i.e. cakes, candy, cookies,
high-calorie beverages).
- Eating too much at one time or not separating
liquids and solids causing the pouch to over-stretch.
- Not exercising as soon as medically appropriate
to increase metabolism during weight loss and
maintenance phase.
Monthly support group meetings are available
and the dietitian is always available to help
you through your journey. Weight loss is not achieved
by surgery alone and you must develop lifelong
eating and behavior changes to be successful.
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