Long Term Management Following Bariatric Surgery

How does bariatric surgery help me to lose weight?

Bariatric surgery is designed to help you lose weight. However, the operation itself will not guarantee a successful weight loss in the long term.

You will need to maintain a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle to not only help keep your weight off in the long term, but to help you stay well too.

What can I do to keep my weight down?

The key to a successful life-long weight loss is a regular eating pattern. Try not to skip meals or go long periods without food or fluid. As your portion sizes should continue to be small in the long term, it is important to choose nutritious foods to help you get the nutrients your body needs in order to stay well.

To help prevent yourself from regaining weight, try to keep old eating habits at bay. A good protein intake helps to make sure you do not lose too much muscle. This helps to keep your weight down in the long term.

The following tips may help:

You should:

• Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid each day.
• Eat regular meals.
• Eat slowly, chewing your food well.
• Stop eating as soon as you feel full; remember that you do not have to clear your plate.
• Use a tea/side plate instead of a dinner plate to help control your portion sizes.
• Avoid fizzy/carbonated drinks as they can cause bloating and discomfort.
• Eat a variety of textures. Liquids and puree foods do not fill you up as much.
• Include at least 1 portion of carbohydrates at meal times. Try to choose wholegrain options where possible.
• Limit high fat/high sugar foods and drinks. These tend to provide a lot of calories with little nutritional value, for example, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, ice cream, sweets, sugary drinks and sugar added to drinks. They should be enjoyed as a treat and not become a regular feature in your day.
• Aim to have a minimum of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Mindful eating is encouraged so that we don’t just think about what we eat, but how we eat it.

Using all your senses while eating will help you to engage with your food, notice how it tastes, feels and smells. To help you eat mindfully, make sure there are no distractions.

What weight loss can I expect?

It is likely that any weight loss will be rapid to start with. Most people lose about 1 stone (6.35kg) per month. This tends to slow down very quickly over the subsequent (following) months.

It is important to remember, however, that you are an individual, and it is therefore important that you do not compare yourself to others.

There are many factors which affect weight loss. You should focus on your own weight loss journey and how changing your diet and lifestyle had improved your health and wellbeing, not just the numbers on the scales.

Some people experience weight regain in the long term despite having had bariatric surgery. This is usually because they have not maintained the dietary and lifestyle changes that were originally made, and due to old habits creeping back in.

What about pregnancy?

You are advised not to become pregnant for the first 2 to 3 years following your surgery.

Not only is there rapid weight loss experienced within this time, the adjustment period makes it harder to get all the nutrients you need to keep you and your baby well.

If you do become pregnant, you will need additional supplements. Please contact your Bariatric Team for extra support.

What about exercise?

Everyone has a different level of ability when it comes to activity.

Below is a table that lists just a few of the many benefits of becoming more active.

Ask yourself, ‘What can I do?’ It is recommended you do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on 5 days of the week. This means you should be breathing heavier than normal and become slightly warm, but still be able to hold a conversation.

If 30 minutes sounds too much, start with 10 minutes, and build up your activity levels slowly to increase your confidence.

Benefits of exercise:

• Reduces cholesterol.
• Reduces blood pressure.
• Improves mood.
• Improves muscle tone.
• Helps to lose weight.
• Helps to maintain weight loss.
• Reduces risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

Contact numbers

If you need further help or advice please contact:

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Services Admin Hub

Telephone: 01429 522 471

Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

Bariatric Dietetic Service

Telephone: 01642 383 728

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm

If your call is not answered, please leave a voicemail with your name, date of birth and your contact number, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Weight loss surgery info

WLS info

54 St James Street

Liverpool

L1 0AB

Telephone: 0151 222 4737

www.wlsinfo.org.uk

Weight Concern

Brook House

2-16 Torrington Pl

London

WC1E 7HB

Telephone: 020 7679 1853

www.weightconcern.org.uk

British Heart Foundation

180 Hampstead Road

Greater London House

London

NW1 7AW

Telephone: 01268 525 320

Healthy recipes

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters/healthy-eating-toolkit/recipe-finder

Activity

https://www.bhf.org.uk/publications/being-active/get-active-stay-active

Alcohol

Drink Aware

Salisbury Avenue

3rd Floor (Room 519)

London

EC2M 5QQ

Telephone: 020 7766 9900

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/latest-uk-alcohol-unit-guidance/

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]