The effect of a plant-based diet in post-surgical bariatric surgery patients in a reference obesity unit in Mexico
Abstract
Post-bariatric surgery patients need nutritional treatment after surgery, focusing on preventing patients from developing dietary deficiencies. This study analyzed the effect of a plant-based diet in post-bariatric surgery patients. A cohort study compared the anthropometric and biochemical parameters from two groups of adult patients. One group followed a conventional diet (n=30), and the other followed a plant-based diet (ovolactovegetarian) (n=20). Two measurements were performed, the first at the beginning of treatment and the second six months later. After six months of dietary follow-up assisted by a nutrition professional, both groups had similar weight loss percentages, BMI, waist circumference, and visceral fat score. Related to anthropometric indicators, only fat mass loss percentage had significant differences, which was higher in the conventional diet group. In regard to biochemical values, similar albumin, glucose, and iron-blood values were found in both groups after six months of treatment. The group of patients who performed a plant-based diet reached similar biochemical and anthropometric values as those found in the conventional diet group after a six-month period.