Energy Balance — What is it and Why is It Important After Bariatric Surgery?
Almost everyone knows that bariatric surgery is a legitimate procedure for weight loss. If you are an obese person and choose to undergo a bariatric procedure, it changes your life completely. But you need to understand that this is the first step in your weight loss journey, and there will be continued changes after surgery. These changes include diet control and a regular physical activity routine, which helps to maintain your energy balance and achieve long-term success.
For instance, include fibre-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) in your regular diet to promote healthy digestion and prevent hunger.
Energy balance is very important after bariatric surgery, and here are some suggestions to maintain it. Before that, let’s know something about the concept of energy balance.
How Does Energy Balance Work?
Energy balance is simply defined as the equilibrium between the amount of energy consumed (in the form of food) and the amount of energy expended. This energy balance is the determining factor in whether you gain, lose, or maintain weight. If you consume excess calories, more than enough energy is generated in your body and is stored as fat, which means weight gain. In cases of calorie deficit, the stored fat is used as energy by your body, which means weight loss.
Whether to gain weight, lose weight, or want to maintain a healthy weight, balancing energy consumption and usage is very important. One can achieve it through diet control and proper physical activity.
After undergoing any weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery, once your regular diet starts, monitoring all the essential nutrients required by your body is very crucial.
The most essential nutrients are as follows:
- Protein
- Calcium
- Vitamins B12
- Vitamins D
- Iron
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Iodine
In addition, it is important to consider your overall calorie needs and foods rich in carbohydrates and fats.
Tips to maintain an energy balance following bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery is one of the major surgical procedures that changes your life by offering significant health benefits. However, one can achieve the desired weight loss and maintain it if they have the commitment to follow a healthy lifestyle and understand energy balance.
Energy balance—how much energy your body generates and how much it spends is the key to maintaining post-bariatric surgery results for the long term.
Here are some tips to maintain energy balance:
Keep an eye on what you eat
Paying attention to what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat is crucial. Include foods with lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables in your regular diet, as they provide essential nutrients and prevent excess calories.
Physical activity
Proper, regular physical activity strengthens your body post-surgery. You do not need to do strenuous workouts; simple activities like walking, running, biking, etc. can help you reduce stress and also improve your sleep patterns.
Track your progress
Track your energy balance; if you consume more calories, compensate by burning them with physical activity. Tracking your progress ensures that the new healthy lifestyle habits you have adopted are working for you. If not, modify your diet and activity level.
Some ways to calculate the calories you consume are:
- Technology is advanced; you can use calorie trackers.
- Use an activity tracker to observe the number of calories you burn during your physical activity.
- If you lose track of your progress or have any other concerns regarding your energy balance, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
By now you may have figured out that maintaining energy balance plays an important role in the successful outcome of a bariatric surgery. Implementing the above-suggested tips can help your body get proper nutrients and fuel following bariatric surgery. If you are looking for the best weight loss surgeon in Hyderabad, consult Dr. Venugopal Pareek, one of the best surgeons in Hyderabad. He has more than 18 years of experience as a weight loss surgeon; he and his dedicated surgeons can provide excellent pre- and postoperative care to achieve your goals.
