Nutritional Evaluation

Prior to surgery, each patient is required to meet with a bariatric dietitian specialist for a Nutrition Evaluation. You will be evaluated on your knowledge of the pre and post bariatric surgery experience. The goal of the Nutrition Evaluation is to focus on changing eating behavior and food selection practices to facilitate the post surgery changes you will need to make.

Nutrition Evaluation:

There is no need for you to worry about your Nutrition Evaluation as long as you understand that weight loss surgery is a big decision, and that there is an extreme importance for you to change your eating behavior and food selection practices after your surgery.

If you are already educated about the pre and post bariatric surgery experience or would like to educate yourself, please schedule a Nutrition Evaluation with a dietitian.

It is best if you complete all the education materials at ClarityMD prior to your evaluation so you are prepared when you meet the dietitian and he/she can determine if you are fully aware of the journey you are about to embark on.

During nutrition screening, patients complete a weight and diet history questionnaire in which they provide information regarding previous attempts at weight loss. Such attempts may include a supervised weight loss and exercise program and/or the use of popular diets. Remember there are no right or wrong answers.

Here is what the dietitian is looking for:

• Your medical history and lifestyle assessment
• Your weight loss/gain history and current eating habits
• Your exercise habits
• Your understanding of the surgery
• Your understanding of the lifestyle changes needed for post-surgery
• Your willingness to be compliant with these changes

The dietitian will make recommendations regarding how you can change your diet to best prepare for your surgery, including the post-op dietary progression, protein and fluid requirements, and lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation. This information gained will help you use bariatric surgery as a tool to best assist in your weight loss success.

If you do not feel like you are educated enough prior to your surgery we suggest educational visits to prepare you for your surgery. This is highly recommended since we want you to have the best possible post-surgery recovery, and obviously a successful future. An educational visit is a one-on-one dietitian visit where they explain and go through all the information that will be extremely helpful for you to know and practice prior to your surgery.