Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Malnutrition?Risk FactorsSigns and SymptomsPreventionTreatment OptionsSupplements After Surgery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Malnutrition?
Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms
Prevention
Treatment Options
Supplements After Surgery
That said, it is easy for patients living with obesity to ignore the potential risks associated withweight loss surgery. For many, hearing someone say that one potential risk of surgery is “losing too much weight” sounds like a dream come true, not a chronic and debilitating condition that can lead to hospitalization and even death.
10'000 Hours / Getty Images
Understanding the risk of malnutrition and how serious it can be, taking steps to prevent malnutrition, and acting quickly when signs of malnutrition are present can mean a dramatic improvement in long-term healthwithout sacrificing weight loss goals.
Malnutrition is a condition that occurs due to a lack of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) macronutrients (overall calorie intake from fat, carbohydrates, and protein). There are many types of malnutrition. Some arise from too few calories, others, like kwashiorkor, develop from a severe lack of protein.The effects of malnutrition range from unnoticeable to severe and life-threatening, and may take years to cause symptoms.
Roux En Y surgery is also associated with malnutrition. Surgeries that decrease the size of the stomach but do not change the ability to absorb nutrients, such as gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy, are less likely to cause malnutrition.
Other risk factors for malnutrition include eating a diet low in nutrients, choosing junk food over whole foods, drinking calories in the form of soda or alcohol instead of high nutrient food, failing to maintain routine follow up with the surgeon, and failing to take recommended and prescribed supplements.
The first way is toeat a diet rich in high nutrient foods.This means eating fruits, vegetables, and ample lean protein and avoiding empty calories from processed food, sugar, and beverages. The other way is to add supplements to your daily diet, these may be prescription-strength or available where vitamins are sold, depending upon your needs.
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, supplements in the months following surgery should include,at a minimum:
The treatment of malnutrition, once it has developed, will be more aggressive than the suggestions for prevention. Prevention is key, but when that is not possible, treatment is necessary. Prescription-strength supplements may be used, high nutrient drink supplements may be added to the diet, and in the most severe cases, hospitalization and administration of IV nutrition may be used.
A bariatric patient should meet with a registered dietitian nutritionist before and after surgery to make sure they are meeting their nutritional needs and to avoid malnutrition from occurring in the first place.
The supplements used to prevent malnutrition will not slow weight loss and can actually improve energy levels and overall feelings of well-being, which in turn can improve activity and weight loss. Taking the prescribed supplements, which may be a far larger dose than what is available over the counter, is important for maintaining good health.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lupoli R, Lembo E, Saldalamacchia G, Avola CK, Angrisani L, Capaldo B.Bariatric surgery and long-term nutritional issues.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(11):464–474. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i11.464Loddo C, Poullenot F, Rivière P, et al.Malnutrition after bariatric surgery requiring artificial nutrition supplies.Obes Surg. 2018;28(6):1803-1805. doi:10.1007/s11695-018-3207-yMedlinePlus.Kwashiorkor.Anderson B, Gill RS, de Gara CJ, Karmali S, Gagner M.Biliopancreatic diversion: the effectiveness of duodenal switch and its limitations.Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2013;2013:974762. doi:10.1155/2013/974762Sawaya RA, Jaffe J, Friedenberg L, Friedenberg FK.Vitamin, mineral, and drug absorption following bariatric surgery.Curr Drug Metab. 2012;13(9):1345–1355. doi:10.2174/138920012803341339Sherf Dagan S, Goldenshluger A, Globus I, et al.Nutritional recommendations for adult bariatric surgery patients: clinical practice.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(2):382–394. doi:10.3945/an.116.014258Parrott J, Frank L, Rabena R, Craggs-Dino L, Isom KA, Greiman L.American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients.Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(5):727-741. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.12.018
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lupoli R, Lembo E, Saldalamacchia G, Avola CK, Angrisani L, Capaldo B.Bariatric surgery and long-term nutritional issues.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(11):464–474. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i11.464Loddo C, Poullenot F, Rivière P, et al.Malnutrition after bariatric surgery requiring artificial nutrition supplies.Obes Surg. 2018;28(6):1803-1805. doi:10.1007/s11695-018-3207-yMedlinePlus.Kwashiorkor.Anderson B, Gill RS, de Gara CJ, Karmali S, Gagner M.Biliopancreatic diversion: the effectiveness of duodenal switch and its limitations.Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2013;2013:974762. doi:10.1155/2013/974762Sawaya RA, Jaffe J, Friedenberg L, Friedenberg FK.Vitamin, mineral, and drug absorption following bariatric surgery.Curr Drug Metab. 2012;13(9):1345–1355. doi:10.2174/138920012803341339Sherf Dagan S, Goldenshluger A, Globus I, et al.Nutritional recommendations for adult bariatric surgery patients: clinical practice.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(2):382–394. doi:10.3945/an.116.014258Parrott J, Frank L, Rabena R, Craggs-Dino L, Isom KA, Greiman L.American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients.Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(5):727-741. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.12.018
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lupoli R, Lembo E, Saldalamacchia G, Avola CK, Angrisani L, Capaldo B.Bariatric surgery and long-term nutritional issues.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(11):464–474. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i11.464Loddo C, Poullenot F, Rivière P, et al.Malnutrition after bariatric surgery requiring artificial nutrition supplies.Obes Surg. 2018;28(6):1803-1805. doi:10.1007/s11695-018-3207-yMedlinePlus.Kwashiorkor.Anderson B, Gill RS, de Gara CJ, Karmali S, Gagner M.Biliopancreatic diversion: the effectiveness of duodenal switch and its limitations.Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2013;2013:974762. doi:10.1155/2013/974762Sawaya RA, Jaffe J, Friedenberg L, Friedenberg FK.Vitamin, mineral, and drug absorption following bariatric surgery.Curr Drug Metab. 2012;13(9):1345–1355. doi:10.2174/138920012803341339Sherf Dagan S, Goldenshluger A, Globus I, et al.Nutritional recommendations for adult bariatric surgery patients: clinical practice.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(2):382–394. doi:10.3945/an.116.014258Parrott J, Frank L, Rabena R, Craggs-Dino L, Isom KA, Greiman L.American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients.Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(5):727-741. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.12.018
Lupoli R, Lembo E, Saldalamacchia G, Avola CK, Angrisani L, Capaldo B.Bariatric surgery and long-term nutritional issues.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(11):464–474. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i11.464
Loddo C, Poullenot F, Rivière P, et al.Malnutrition after bariatric surgery requiring artificial nutrition supplies.Obes Surg. 2018;28(6):1803-1805. doi:10.1007/s11695-018-3207-y
MedlinePlus.Kwashiorkor.
Anderson B, Gill RS, de Gara CJ, Karmali S, Gagner M.Biliopancreatic diversion: the effectiveness of duodenal switch and its limitations.Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2013;2013:974762. doi:10.1155/2013/974762
Sawaya RA, Jaffe J, Friedenberg L, Friedenberg FK.Vitamin, mineral, and drug absorption following bariatric surgery.Curr Drug Metab. 2012;13(9):1345–1355. doi:10.2174/138920012803341339
Sherf Dagan S, Goldenshluger A, Globus I, et al.Nutritional recommendations for adult bariatric surgery patients: clinical practice.Adv Nutr. 2017;8(2):382–394. doi:10.3945/an.116.014258
Parrott J, Frank L, Rabena R, Craggs-Dino L, Isom KA, Greiman L.American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients.Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(5):727-741. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2016.12.018
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
