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Bariatric NutritionIn New Jersey

What is Bariatric Nutrition?

Many people in the United States struggle with obesity and have found they are unable to lose weight on their own. When all other options have been exhausted, they turn to bariatric surgery, which refers to different surgical procedures designed to target weight loss.

However, this surgery is not the first step in the weight loss process. Before you can get bariatric surgery, you have to be approved by a multidisciplinary team that includes but is not limited to your surgeon, primary care physician, psychologist, and Registered Dietitian. RDN Nutrition Counseling helps you reach the bariatric nutrition benchmarks required to get approved for your surgery.

Afterward, the job isn’t done. It is essential to adhere to a strict diet provided by our Registered Dietitian, not only to lose weight effectively but also to provide your body with the necessary nutrients and vitamins that it requires. We will help guide you before, during, and after surgery to give you the help and support you need, to make sure your weight loss journey is successful. Call or email RDN Nutrition Counseling today if you are interested in learning more about bariatric nutrition in New Jersey.

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What is a healthy BMI?

New Jersey Bariatric Nutrition model with brown hair

Your weight class is defined by something called BMI, or body mass index, which uses your height and weight to classify if you are at risk to develop any medical conditions that can impact your health and well-being.

A healthy BMI should be between 18.5kg/m2 and 24.9kg/m2; when a patient’s BMI is 25kg/m2 to 29.9kg/m2 they are considered overweight. Obesity class 1 is classified when a patient has a BMI of 30kg/m2 or higher. Any patient with a BMI of 35kg/m2 or higher is at a very high risk to develop comorbidities such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Sleep Apnea. At RDN Nutrition Counseling, we want to provide you with the necessary tools you need to keep the weight off post-operatively.

Bariatric Nutrition Before Surgery

To be approved for any weight loss procedure the patient needs to prove that they are willing to undergo behavior modifications that will be crucial to ensure success post-op.

These include but are not limited to eliminating refined processed foods from their diets, carbonated beverages, and eating balanced nutrient-dense meals. These prove that you are a serious and healthy candidate for surgery. These modifications will be worked out by you and one of our Registered Dietitians at RDN Nutrition Counseling. Together, you’ll come up with an individualized plan to accommodate what the patient needs to work on in preparation for the surgery. At RDN Nutrition Counseling, we’ll be right there with you every step of the way.

Bariatric Nutrition After Surgery

After you have your bariatric surgery, you must follow the strict nutrition guidelines for optimal results.

Following the bariatric nutrition plan provided by our Registered Dietitians has an array of benefits. First, it will provide your body with the required amounts of fluids, vitamins, and minerals as well as letting the stomach heal and promoting the weight loss process. While there can be some variations depending on which surgery you have and your surgeon, there are several basic steps to follow after surgery.

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Liquid Diet

Depending on your surgeon and program on average the patient will need to adhere to a Clear Liquid diet for up to two weeks post-op.

Pureed Diet

Once you can handle liquids, you can start to eat foods that have been pureed, or mashed up; typically this stage will last for about two weeks.

Soft Foods

After eating pureed food for at least two weeks you can start adding soft food (like egg whites) to your diet. Be sure to follow up with our Registered Dietitians.

Solid Foods

Finally - solids! After at least eight weeks, you can start to eat more solid foods. You will still need to avoid food, such as bread, soda, fried foods. As these will NOT be tolerated by your new stomach.

Your New Jersey Bariatric Nutrition Consultation

If you would like to know more about bariatric nutrition in New Jersey- even if you are not planning on getting surgery - come to RDN Nutrition Counseling for a consultation. Our Registered Dietitians can help you with weight loss in preparation for your surgery or general nutrition. Call or email RDN Nutrition Counseling today to book a consultation with one of our Registered Dietitians in New Jersey.

Bariatric Nutrition FAQs

You can CLICK HERE to enter your information and discover your BMI.

Gastric bypass not only limits the kinds of foods you can eat but also the quantity of food. Additionally, it limits the nutrients that your body can absorb. To avoid malnutrition from vitamin deficiency after gastric bypass, you will need to work with a Registered Dietitian to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrients from your diet. This may include subsidizing your diet with vitamin supplements:

  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B12

Put RDN Nutrition in your corner. Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation today.

Today could be the day that you look back on as “the day it all changed.” Today could be the day you take control of your weight. All you have to do is contact us. Our licensed New Jersey registered dietitian nutritionists have helped others fight the fat. They can help you, too.

716 Broad Street Suite 2-E, Clifton NJ 07013