Nutritional profile and lifestyle of patients before and after bariatric surgery

Abstract

Aims: To analyze the nutritional profile and the lifestyle of patients before and after bariatric surgery by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Methods: Retrospective cohort study carried out in the period from 2010 to 2014. including data on patients submitted to bariatric surgery by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a private hospital located in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil. Sociodemographic data, lifestyle, anthropometric measurements, and the intake of calories, nutrients, vitamins, and mineral salts before surgery and one year thereafter were analyzed. The results for biochemical tests (vitamin B12, hemoglobin, albumin, hematocrit, and ferritin) performed six months to one year after surgery were also assessed. Results: Fifty patients were included in the study, and 44 (88%) were female. Thirty-five patients (70%) presented with some conditions before surgery, among which high blood pressure (35%) and diabetes mellitus (20%) were the most frequent. Between the preoperative evaluation and one year after the surgery, physical activity level increased (18.0% vs. 90.0%; p=0.001) whereas weight (118.51±21.88 vs. 80.30±15.74), body mass index (43.55±5~.52 vs. 29.55±4.21), and abdominal circumference (123.06±16.21 vs. 92.36±11.62) decreased significantly (p<0.001). The intake of calories and of vitamin B12 also decreased significantly (p<0.05). The tests performed within six months to one year after the surgery indicated one patient with vitamin B12 deficiency, seven patients with anemia, and three with ferritin deficiency. Conclusions: After bariatric surgery by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass there was weight loss, reduction in body mass index and abdominal circumference, and a decrease in sedentary lifestyle. Some nutritional deficiencies were observed, which indicates the need for nutritional management after bariatric surgery in order to ensure a successful outcome.