Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery

The decision to undergo bariatric surgery such as sleeve gastrectomy, SIPS duodenal switch, gastric bypass, or other procedures carries a lot of responsibility and the need for nutritional, physiological and psychological education and support. A growing body of research suggests that disordered eating behaviours and eating disorders such as binge eating disorder are common in patients presenting for bariatric surgery and may have a significant impact on surgical outcomes and health. Patients hope that surgery will end a lifetime of dieting and obsession with food and eating however may be surprised to find that they are preoccupied with food, body, weight and shape more than ever before.

This is where our team expert Dietitians come in. We are Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians with specialist training and skills to identify red flags for disordered eating and eating disorders both pre- and post-bariatric surgery. The development of surgery-related eating problems or disordered eating patterns following weight loss surgery can be extremely distressing. We believe all patients must be aware of the potential for:

• continuation of disordered eating or an undiagnosed eating disorder
• a relapse of disordered eating or an eating disorder in response to surgery-related strict dietary restriction and rule-based eating
• development of an eating disorder due to rapid weight loss, dietary restriction and pre-occupation with food intake, weight and shape, and intense fear of weight gain
• increased body image distress due to loose skin post-weight loss or body changes not meeting your expectations
• ‘Failure’ to meet expected weight loss outcomes post-surgery
• high rates of weight regain post-surgery
• development of subjective binging and grazing behaviours

How our dietitians can help with bariatric surgery:

 In addition to screening patients for the issues listed above, our expert dietitians can help with eating-related problems that do not necessarily constitute an eating disorder and that commonly develop post-surgery including managing:

• food intolerances, such as red meat or white bread, that can result in significant nutrient deficiencies
• frequent grazing
• dumping syndrome with symptoms of light-headedness, sweating, palpitations, cramps, and diarrhea
• involuntary nausea and/or vomiting and/or intentional vomiting to relieve discomfort
• plugging- a feeling of food being stuck and not going down
• chewing and spitting used to prevent plugging
• nutritional deficiencies- preventing or reversing them

​​At Dietwise we are extremely compassionate and understanding of the difficulties of maintaining weight loss post-surgery and offer support and advice without shame or judgement.