What is essential to weight loss? A lot of people will tell you to just diet and exercise to succeed after bariatric surgery, but there’s so much more to it. To lose weight in the long term requires you to change mentally and physically. You need to recognize what your body and mind need. And this is where our guide comes in.
This article will help you restructure your life to balance diet and exercise with proper vitamins and therapy for lifetime success.
Dependence on Vitamins After Surgery
Because of malabsorption in gastric bypass and duodenal switch, patients have to rely on certain vitamins and supplements to stay healthy, including:
- Bariatric Multivitamins (soft chew, chewable, capsules, and liquid vitamins)
- Protein
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Zinc
- Vitamin B1
Learn more: Bariatric Surgery: Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Guide
Mental Health After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an incredible tool to help you live a better, longer life. However, common mental issues often associated with obesity, like depression and anxiety, remain prominent after any procedure.
If patients are depressed, will bariatric surgery help to aid their depression? New studies suggest, at least initially.
The Harvard Mental Health Letter notes that mood disorders such as depression and anxiety affect many eligible bariatric patients. Depression and anxiety scores were reduced significantly soon after surgery but tended to be higher two to four years later. Despite improvements in physical health, patients gave lower scores for their overall general health after their surgery than they had preoperatively.
Is there an increase in depression?
For over a decade, Dr. Hilary Tindle and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed bariatric patients’ suicide rates in Pennsylvania. They determined that there is a heightened suicide risk after weight-loss surgery. While many occurred within 3 years after surgery, 30% of which happened in less than 2 years.
According to Tindle’s team, more studies are needed to understand why bariatric surgery patients show an increased suicide risk. If there are characteristics connected to a higher risk, some suicides might be prevented by more careful monitoring and treatment.
What should Bariatric Patients do?
Many patients think that after surgery, they will be relieved of depression, anxiety, and other issues, but this is not always true. While patients can be physically healthier, surgeons normally express caution that the patient’s psychological health will often remain unchanged. Patients who find themselves depressed before surgery are often advised to see therapists regularly after surgery.
If you or a loved one need help, please get in touch with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for the right health care. Otherwise, speak to a medical advisor or visit a local medical center for help. Mental health is just as important to weight loss as other health problems like sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes.
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