Winning by losing? Nutritional consequences of bariatric surgery

Summary

Every year, about 12,000 individuals with severe obesity in the Netherlands undergo bariatric surgery, also known as metabolic surgery. Each bariatric procedure alters the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby influencing intake, digestion and absorption of nutrients Despite their effectiveness on weight reduction and improved health-outcomes, these changes also increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies which can lead to anemia, osteoporosis or malnutrition. The overall aim of this thesis was to gain more insight into factors affecting nutritional status of individuals undergoing bariatric surgery, including dietary intake and nutritional supplementation. Nutrition and supplementation can be seen as two sides of the same coin. Although supplement intake will contribute more to total nutrient intake than dietary intake, both are equally important in achieving optimal nutritional status after bariatric surgery. Additionally, a part of this thesis was dedicated to pregnancy following bariatric surgery as this period may pose an even greater risk on nutritional status.