Gastric Banding Patients

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            A UT Southwestern Medical Center study suggests that patients who have had bariatric surgery may need to take dietary supplements. The study tracked a group of gastric banding patients and found that despite nutritional counseling over a three month period, most still did not meet recommended daily requirements for important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and calcium. Gastric banding patients may not need only supplementation; they may also need counseling and constant evaluation.

            Bariatric surgery and the lifestyle changes necessary for continued success are serious lifelong commitments and this study reinforces the importance of careful patient selection and education in choosing banding, sleeve or bypass in addition to continued follow up. In banding surgery, it’s presumed there are not as many nutritional precautions needed as with more invasive bariatric surgery options. Banding patients are prone to nutrition deficiency post-surgery, despite taking supplements and receiving nutritional counseling since banding patients eat less and often miss important nutrients.

            The advice from the study authors are for banding patients to consume more protein-rich foods, include fatty fish in the diet to increase omega-3 fatty acid intake and consume more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nuts to increase dietary fiber intake.

UT Southwestern Medical Center. (2014, Jan 30). Gastric banding patients should closely monitor nutrition following surgery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140130091443.htm.

-MG

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