POST-BARIATRIC SURGERY NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS – Part 1 (Nutritional Therapy in the evolution of diet and Dumping Syndrome)

Bariatric surgery is a form of treatment for morbid obesity (Body Mass Index – BMI – ≥ 40 Kg/m2) and, in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus from a BMI ≥ 35 Kg/m2. Bariatric diet protocols are defined by each surgical team and may vary in the progression of dietary consistency. However, they all share common nutritional goals such as: – Maximize weight loss and absorption of essential nutrients – Maintain adequate hydration – Avoid vomiting and dumping syndrome Nutritional guidance is based on a diet with minimal calories and high in essential nutrients, ensuring healing and minimizing loss of lean mass. The diet should reduce reflux, early satiety and dumping syndrome, at the same time increasing the expected weight loss for each period and, later, the maintenance of the acquired weight. Women who become pregnant should be monitored for adequate weight gain and specific supplementation, meeting the needs of the mother and fetus. Diet stage and progression The progression of diet consistency is based on post-surgical recommendation protocols. To improve the results, patients and family members already receive, in the preoperative period, a structured postoperative diet, with examples of menus and recommendations regarding the type of food, preparations, volume, in addition to basic notions of dietary technique.