Life After Bariatric Surgery: Insight From Bariatric Dietitian

In today’s blog, Ciara Csanadi House, MS, RD, LDN – a Registered Dietitian at New Life Bariatric Surgery – offers her thoughts on life after weight loss surgery, the importance of bariatric vitamins and supplements, and the ways in which patients can successfully make necessary lifestyle changes to maintain weight loss.

What would you say is typically the most difficult new lifestyle habit a bariatric surgery patient must adopt after surgery?
Not eating too fast and not drinking with meals are the two most common eating behaviors that patients have a hard time changing after surgery.

How important are meal replacement options and vitamin/mineral supplementation for most patients after surgery?
Meal replacement options are not necessarily that important, but protein supplements between meals are almost always necessary to help patients meet their protein needs after surgery.

Depending on the surgery and individual person, most patients will need protein supplements for the rest of their lives to meet their protein needs. Vitamin/mineral supplementation is crucial for long-term health and wellness.

With the reduced surface area for absorption of vitamins and minerals, patients are at great risk for developing a serious, life-threatening vitamin deficiency if they are non-compliant with their vitamin regimen.

Would you say that most patients adapt well to their new health and nutrition requirements after surgery?

Yes. I think our practice does a great job of managing their expectations for weight loss and explaining the diet phases and reasons for diet advancement post-op. However, if a patient is not committed to making lifestyle changes and changing their relationship with food, they will not adapt well and will not be successful with long-term weight loss.

With the many options available for meal replacement, do you find that your patients miss their old eating habits very much, if at all?

I think our patients start to enjoy healthy, high protein foods after surgery, especially after they remove fast food and junk food from their diet. They start to view food as fuel and are much more aware of the nutrition content of the food.

It doesn’t mean they don’t still enjoy a small piece of birthday cake at their child’s birthday party, but they recognize empty calories and typically are much smarter in their food choices.

Meet Ciara Csanadi House, MS, RD, LDN – Bariatric Certified Dietitian

Ciara completed her master’s degree in Nutrition and her Dietetic Internship at the University of Tennessee.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida State University and a nutrition degree from the University of Tennessee. Ciara is a State of Tennessee licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist.

She has worked in multiple areas of nutrition including collegiate sports nutrition, clinical nutrition, and adult weight management.

Dietitians are a vital part of our comprehensive multidisciplinary program and as such, are keys to the success of your weight loss program.

Unlike a one-time consultation with a nutritionist, a registered dietitian such as Ciara provides patients with ongoing, individualized support and education for dietary needs as the patient advances through the stages of weight loss.

From the first visit through the patient’s annual follow ups, Ciara is committed to helping patients achieve their weight loss and health goals.

To your health!
The Bari Life Team

Questions for Ciara? Email [email protected]!

Improving the health and wellness of bariatric patients around the globe by providing the most complete bariatric vitamin formulas that are highly effective and clinically proven.