The disease of obesity is challenging to manage and is linked to a number of health problems. Significant weight loss is possible with bariatric surgery, along with the correction of related medical conditions. Patients are expected to adjust to a new way of living that includes nutritious food, nutritional supplementation, physical activity, abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, and routine check-ups.
Keeping hydrated is crucial following surgery. To avoid nausea, kidney-related issues, constipation, and exhaustion, patients are encouraged to drink at least 2 litres of liquid or more every day. Patients must concentrate on consuming enough total protein in addition to liquids. Typically, patients must ingest 60 to 100 grams of protein each day, depending on their body weight and surgical procedure. To avoid wasting energy and losing muscle, they should start by avoiding foods heavy in sugar and carbohydrate.
Obese people frequently lack numerous vitamins and minerals. Following surgery, patients must take bariatric-specific vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives at a dose based on their unique blood results, including multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and iron. Patients who do not take vitamins daily for the rest of their lives may experience serious and even fatal problems. To maintain weight loss over the long term, all patients are encouraged and given advice to complete the recommended workouts. Patients’ recovery would be accelerated if they began walking frequently shortly after surgery, as this can hasten recovery. All patients should, on average, engage in 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. Patients who want to have bariatric surgery must give up smoking permanently.
To reduce the chance of developing lung cancer and to speed up the body’s ability to recover after surgery, patients should stop using all nicotine-containing products before to surgery. Continuing to use nicotine also increases the risk of heart attack, pneumonia, and blood clots right after surgery. Alcohol use after bariatric surgery can have major side effects since it enters the bloodstream more quickly after the procedure and stays in the patient’s system for longer.
Regular follow-up after surgery is very important as obesity is a chronic disease and patients may regain weight if not being careful and regularly monitored and counselled. In the first year post surgery patients should follow-up quarterly, and annually thereafter for life.
