Lifestyle changes post bariatric surgery for patients with obesity

Obesity is the result of excessive accumulation of fat in one’s body to the extent that it becomes harmful. This excess fat can be hazardous as it leads to various other diseases and affects the quality of life. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, PCOD, joint related issues, infertility, sleep apnoea, gout, liver disease and so on. 

Bariatric surgery leads to significant improvement in the associated diseases of obesity, especially type 2 diabetes. However, like any other chronic condition, the treatment of obesity also needs a multi-disciplinary approach and lifestyle modification in the long term.

A healthy diet, lifestyle modification and regular nutritional supplementation are essential for maintaining good health and being fit after bariatric surgery. Surgery helps to knock off significant weight in the first year, and patients who embrace these lifestyle changes tend to get better outcomes in terms of weight loss, weight maintenance and overall health.

Here are some lifestyle modification tips that you can follow post-bariatric surgery to have a smooth dietary transition, better recovery, positive weight loss outcomes and weight maintenance in the long term

Clear liquid phase: Day 1 and 2

Full liquid phase: Day 3 to Day 15

Soft diet phase: Day 16 to Day 30

Full diet phase: After 1 month

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​​About the author: Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker is a laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon at Saifee Hospital and is the author of the book "Bariatric Recipes"

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