Living With Nutritional Deficiency After A Weight Loss Surgery

In recent years, bariatric surgery has become a common weight loss procedure to treat people suffering from severe obesity. This is mainly due to the successful results that have been reported by those who have had the surgery. However, there are some issues that potential weight loss surgery candidates should be aware of prior to having the surgery. If you are thinking about having weight loss surgery, it is important to be informed about the possible nutritional deficiencies that can occur after having the medical procedure.

Nutritional deficiency can occur after bariatric surgery because a major part of the small intestine has been bypassed. The small intestine is the area where nutrients are absorbed by the body. It is also the place where bile and pancreatic enzymes absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the ingested food. These important vitamins include Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Deficiencies that can occur after weight loss surgery include: Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency, Protein deficiency, Iron deficiency, Vitamin B12 and Folate deficiency, Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency, and other vitamin deficiencies. For instance, Zinc and Magnesium deficiencies have been found in some weight loss surgery patients. Signs of protein deficiency include: extreme fatigue, loss of hair, and swelling in the legs. As well, common vitamin and mineral deficiencies include numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, bone pain, lethargy, nails that are brittle, difficulty seeing in dim light, wounds that are slow to heal, and bruising easily.

Weight loss surgery is fast becoming an increasingly common and effective treatment for morbid obesity and treating such conditions as diabetes, and improving a person's overall health. Because it is common for obese patients to have nutritional deficiencies before they have weight loss surgery, it can further complicate patient health if they are not prescribed the right type and amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements during the recovery period. A weight loss surgeon will perform a physical exam on a patient prior to surgery which will include checking for vitamin deficiencies. During the recovery period, the patient will have to follow a strict protocol of a long term multi-vitamin diet along with regular physician check ups. Studies have shown that taking multivitamin supplements can greatly help keep nutrient serum levels at proper levels. If a patient becomes deficient in a vitamin, the physician will make modifications to the dosage. The diet of a post-op weight loss surgery patient will be high in protein and vitamins.

In Western society, obesity has become a serious epidemic with grave health consequences. The health impact, both financially and personally, can be devastating as there are a number of illnesses that coincide with obesity such as diabetes, lung/breathing problems, heart disease, immune system problems, circulatory problems, and more. When it comes to people with severe weight problems, traditional weight loss products and programs have tended to fail to produce healthy weight loss results. Weight loss surgery has now become an effective weight loss solution. When considering weight loss surgery, it is important to consult with your physician to learn about the risks and rewards of having bariatric surgery.

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