The post-gastric bypass diet is a restrictive diet for individuals recovering from gastric bypass surgery. It involves a multi-stage process to introduce foods slowly to the healed stomach. The diet aims to help the stomach heal, acclimate the patient to smaller portions, and achieve long-term weight loss. Strict adherence is needed but the diet may cause deficiencies over time without supplements. While challenging, following the diet is important for recovery and health benefits after surgery.

1. The Post Gastrectomy Diet
Learning to eat the post-gastric
bypass way.
Presented by:
Mikal Spinks, Haley Saylor,
Shawndra Anderson, and
DeAnna McNeal
June 30, 2013

2. What is the
Gastric Bypass diet?
The gastric bypass diet is a diet that is
specifically intended for individuals
recovering from gastric-bypass surgery. It is
a step-by-step plan as to what foods and
beverages you can and cannot eat or
drink, how to prepare those foods, and
when and how much of those foods you
should consume at each meal. The meal-
planning process usually consists of four to
five stages of progressions but should be
customized for each individual patient. The
plan should be adhered to strictly for
maximum results and optimal health. The
purpose for the diet is to allow the sutures
in the stomach to heal without too much
strain or stretching. It also serves as a
means to acclimate the patient to the
smaller amounts of food that will be
consumed on a regular basis in order to
achieve optimum weight loss results. A
patient’s success will ultimately be
determined by their commitment to
making a lifestyle change in their eating
habits and exercise routines. The health
benefits of Gastric Bypass surgery and the
diet that follows far surpass the
complications that could arise.
DeAnna McNeal

3. Literature Review Table
Team
Member
Database/Journal
Article Citation
Summary
Statement
Website Summary
Statement
DeAnna
McNeal
CINAHL
Patient education.
Five-stage post-
operative gastric
bypass diet
progression. (2004).
Nutrition in Clinical
Care, 7(1), 40-42.
The article is a
detailed
description for
patient teaching
describing the
progression of
the post-
operative gastric
bypass diet.
http://search.ebs
cohost.com.libp
roxy.troy.edu/lo
gin.aspx
This link gives
direct access to
the database
where the article
and information
were received.
The website
provides
information on
the diet that the
patient is to
adhere to
following their
gastric bypass
surgery.

4. Menu & Analysis
Maintenance Stage (Stage 5)
By: DeAnna McNeal

5. Literature Review Table
Team
Member
Database/
Journal Article
Citation
Summary
Statement
Website Summary
Statement
Mikal
Spinks
SAGE
Postgastrectom
y Nutrition.
Nutrition in
Clinical
Practice. vol. 26
no. 2
pp 126-136
Rogers, C
April 2011
This article is a
description of the
physiology behind
common post
gastrectomy
complications. It
provides guidelines
for the medical and
nutrition
management of
these
complications, and
presents a basic
approach to
postgastrectomy
gastrointestinal
symptoms.
http://ncp.sag
epub.com/co
ntent/26/2/126
.full
Website allows
for full text
viewing of Post
Gastrectomy
Nutrition
advice on
deficiencies
and diet
requirements.
This website
reveals that
there is not
sufficient
literature to
support a
standard post
gastrectomy
diet. Rather,
individualized
diet
manipulation
for symptom
relief is
recommended
.

6. Menu & Analysis
Maintenance Stage (Stage 5)
By: Mikal Spinks

7. Team Member Database/Jour
nal Article
Citation
Summary
Statement
Website Summary
Statement
Haley
Saylor
Nursing
Reference
Center
Gastrectomy
(2007)
This journal
goes into detail
about what a
gastrectomy is.
It also goes into
great detail
about why a
patient would
need a
gastrectomy.
http://trojan.tr
oy.edu/library/
databases.html
#
This link gives
direct access to
the database
where the
journal article
can be found.
This website
provides
information on
the diet and
reasons why
the patient
would need
this procedure.
Literature
Review Table

8. Haley Saylor

9. Team Member Database/ Journal Article
Citation
Summary Statement
Shawndra Anderson SAGE
Postgastrectomy
Nutrition.
Nutrition in Clinical Practice.
Vol. 22
Pgs. 22-28
This article states how obesity is
associated with a number of problems
and can be associated with
hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea,
diabetes mellitus, these are just a few
things. The gastric bypass surgery
provides a great benefit of losing the
weight as well as improving your health
conditions over a short period of time.
All it takes is commitment as well as
determination. Following a strict diet
after surgery will give you the best
results.

10. Analysis Results Personal Diet List
Nutrient Total Rec. %Rec
Calories 1619.49 2200 73.61%
Pro (g) 151.03 50 302.06%
Fat (g) 22.87 73.33 31.19%
Carb (g) 198.47 --
Fiber (g) 11.41 30 38.03%
Cal (mg) 2011.58 1000 201.16%
Iron (mg) 7.64 10 76.4%
Na (mg) 1674.64 2400 69.78%
Pot (mg) 4639.71 --
Phos (mg) 2496.26 700 356.61%
Ash (g) 16.57 --
vitA (IU) 23334.19 4000 583.35%
vitC (mg) 43.63 75 58.17%
Thia (mg) 0.97 1.1 88.18%
Ribo (mg) 3 1.1 272.73%
Nia (mg) 35.9 14 256.43%
H2O % 54.87 Female 31-50 --
satF (g) 7.17 24.44 29.34%
monoF (g) 7.18 24.44 29.38%
polyF (g) 4.55 24.44 18.62%
Chol (mg) 235.36 300 78.45%
Food Item
Number
of
Servings
Serving
Size
Total grams
WATER-BOTTLED-POLAND
SPRING
8 1 floz 237.04 grams
MILK-COW-DRY-SKIM-NON
-FAT SOLIDS-REGULAR-
W/ADDED VIT A
8 1 floz 120 grams
COUSCOUS-COOKED 1 1 c 180 grams
BEANS-SNAP-GREEN VAR
-CKD-BOILED-DRAINED-
WO/SALT
1 1 c 124 grams
BLUEBERRIES-RAW 1 1 CUP 145 grams
PUDDING-JELLO
COOK&SERVE; CHOCOLATE
W/ 2%MILK
4 1 floz 147 grams
PEACHES-CANNED-X-LIGHT
SIRUP
-SOL&LIQ
1 1 floz 30.88 grams
CHEESE-COTTAGE; FAT FREE;
BREAKSTONE'S
2 1 oz 56.7 grams
YOGURT-NONFAT; LIGHT N
LIVELY; STRAWBERRY
8 1 oz 226.8 grams
CARROTS-CKD-BOILED-
DRAINED
-W/SALT
0.5 1 c 78 grams
CHICKEN-ROASTING-MEAT
ONLY
-CKD-ROASTED
1 1 CUP 140 grams
FISH/SHELLFISH-SWORDFISH
-COOKED-DRY HEAT
6 1 OZ 170 grams
Shawndra Anderson

11. The post-gastric bypass diet is difficult to evaluate as a stand-alone diet because it is designed for
people who are recovering from gastric bypass surgery. The surgery and post-operative diet places many
restrictions on what types of food you can and cannot have and how they must be prepared. Its purpose is to help
the healing process of the stomach and allow the patient to slowly become acclimated to eating smaller amounts of
food. This diet not only helps the patient to lose weight, but it also aids in sustaining his or her weight loss long
term. There are many factors that play a role in the success of post-gastric bypass weight loss.
Nutrition management for the patient needs to be individualized and will require careful monitoring.
Most post-operative routines follow a process of progressive stages. This process can be very time consuming due
to the patient’s tolerance or intolerance of the diet’s constant changes. After surgery, most patients wait two days
before they begin eating again. The first step is to only take in small amounts of liquid. This step will show how the
patient can tolerate foods after surgery. The next step introduces a small variety of foods to the diet; however, these
foods must be mashed, pureed, or blended. Soft, solid foods will be added to the diet in step number three.
Finally, following this step you may begin to eat solid foods. However, there are limitations to the types of solid
foods allowed. The restrictions include foods such as: tough meats, nuts, and sodas.
In order to achieve maximal results, there are many guidelines and restrictions that must be adhered
to. Some of these guidelines are: keep meals small, take vitamin and mineral supplements, drink liquids between
meals, eat and drink slowly, chew food thoroughly, try new foods one at a time, focus on high-protein foods, and
avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Over an extended period of time these limitations could present the
problems of inadequate nutrient balance and poor vitamin absorbency. Throughout the recovery process the
patient must ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals and keep their weight-loss goals on track.
In addition to these deficiencies other health complications exist, such as dehydration, nausea,
vomiting, constipation, pouch blockage, dumping syndrome, and weight loss failure. Some of these difficulties may
occur even when the diet is being followed exactly. With a balanced diet and routine follow-up visits with the
surgeon, the patient can reduce their risk of complications or even prevent them from happening. The benefits of
gastric bypass surgery, the post-gastric bypass diet, and the life-saving weight loss that ensues still outweighs the
possible complications that come along with it. There is still room for improvement and from what can be
gathered from research, clinical experts understand the need for enhanced patient success in the future.
Group Consensus Statement
Post-Gastric Bypass Diet