Importance of nutrition counseling in Bariatric

Bariatric nutritionists work holistically to look after the bariatric patients throughout their weight loss journey. There are many important factors required for the successful weight loss journey. One of the most important being the role of bariatric nutrition counsellor. Dedicated nutrition counsellors help to prepare a prospective surgery candidate with long-term diet and lifestyle changes that will set them up for success after surgery.

Diet therapy also helps to maintain the weight for a long period of time. Dietitians take multiple counselling sessions and explain which type of food to be included and avoided, how to follow the diet, how to make modifications in the diet, how to remain consistent and many more such things which should not be ignored. Appropriate counselling regarding lifestyle modifications and patterns are being done so as to ensure overall health benefits and long-term efficacy

• Evaluating personalized needs: Every individual requires a different kind of diet and approach according to their condition, lifestyle, likes and dislikes, cultural beliefs, economic status and so on. One general diet therapy does not fit for every individual. Thus, evaluating each and every individual personally is the key to go ahead for the successful weight loss journey.

• Support system: Bariatric patients often undergo psychological issues because of their body size which causes low self-esteem, not being able to perform normal day to day activities, medical issues, etc. People require someone who can boost their self-esteem and help them with their weight loss journey positively.

• Creating short goals to achieve: Long term goals are only achieved once we try to achieve the small goals. People do not gain weight overnight so expecting to lose weight overnight is not at all a good idea to go ahead with the weight loss journey. Taking small steps and achieving the goals in the mentioned time is what one needs to understand to see the long-term results.

• Enhancing healthy habits: Counselling is the best way to improve habits. There are many people who follow the diet properly but due to some faulty habits they end up getting poor results. Bariatric nutrition counsellor helps the patients to understand their faulty habits like eating fast, keeping larger gaps in between meals, consuming lot of empty calorie food which do not provide any nutritional value

Follow ups: Bariatric nutritionists make sure that they guide the patients to make up for the routine follow ups. Reassessment is necessary to know the effect of the prescribed diet therapy and the outcomes. If there are any difficulties with the compliance of diet then the nutritionist makes sure to get it resolved. Follow ups are essential to make sure that the patients are doing well and if any adjustments need to be made according to the patients convenience.