For those who suffer from the disease of obesity, weight loss surgery has emerged as the most effective, reliable and long term weight control solution available.  Unfortunately, many of the nutritional lessons learned from the early bariatric procedures have largely been forgotten.  Namely, you can not surgically alter the digestive and absorption capabilities of the gastrointestinal track without significantly altering dietary intake if you wish to maintain an appropriate nutritional state.  In addition, weight loss per se does not equate to health and well being.

These well known but ignored issues became very apparent to me soon after performing my first few bariatric procedures.  Patients quickly developed fatigue, muscle weakness, hair loss, dry-flaky skin, anemia and B12 deficiency.  I then began hearing reports of vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium and thiamine deficiencies.  Despite a generic recommendation to take a protein and vitamin supplement my patients were developing manifestations of protein and micronutrient malnutrition.   It seemed as though I was destined to relive our surgical past.  It was then that I realized not all protein and vitamin supplements were created equal.

In fact, most of the supplements seemed to just pass through the body offering no physiologic benefit.  With no dietary “wiggle room” my bariatric patients could not afford the low quality, poorly absorbed products.  These products were costing them their health-a price we were not willing to pay.  My search for medical grade products lead me to Metagenics a premier manufacturer and distributer of science-based foods and nutraceuticals.

Immediately after beginning a high grade meal replacement specially designed for the post operative bariatric patient my patient’s experienced complete relief of their malnutrition symptoms.  Hair loss was no longer a problem.  Fatigue and weakness had resolved.  Not only were patients losing primarily fatty tissue, when combined with exercise they were actually gaining muscle.  I had finally obtained the result I was after – normalization of the body composition.   Other benefits of this improved condition included less wound infections, shorter convalescence and no anastomotic leaks.  In short, I have achieved greater surgical results and happier patients.

Bariatric surgery is about health not size or weight. It is important to monitor your bodies composition during your weight loss. As your weight changes ask your self  “did I gain or lose fat, water or muscle?”. Be aware that your scale does not answer this question. The scale only measures weight which is a summation of all the components of your body. When treating obesity we only want to lose the fat component. This is were a proper diet comes into play. By monitoring your body composition we can identify nutritional problems before they become serious health issues. Objective nutritional guidance can then be made so proper life style habits can be created. Remember that surgery does not cause weight loss-life style does.

At Health Concepts our unique style of personalized care takes into consideration the not so obvious elements of health maintenance. Thank you for your time. I look forword to meeting you soon.