Dietary changes after vertical banded gastroplasty

Background: Gastric restriction surgery relies on obstruction to oral intak e by formation of a gastric pouch. Therefore, the therapeutic effect is clo sely related to intolerance for different types of food, and an ingestion o f an unbalanced diet. We investigated dietary changes after VBG and their a ssociations with therapeutic success. Methods: 70 patients (4 men, 66 women, median age 32) with a median preoper ative BMI of 44.6 were examined greater than or equal to 3 years after VBG. Weight reduction, nutritional changes (type of diet, number of daily meals , amount of food that could be ingested, intolerance for different types of food, frequency of vomiting), satisfaction with results, and willingness t o undergo the operation once again were investigated. Results: The average reduction of the BMI was 13, with sufficient weight lo ss in 80%. 36% were eating a solid, 43% a soft, and 21% a liquid diet. Weig ht reduction did not depend on the type of diet eaten but on the ingestion of sweets. 93% indicated they could take only small amounts of food. The av erage number of daily meals was 3. 76% reported an intolerance for some typ e of food (most often meat, fruit, or vegetable). Vomiting was the most com mon problem and occurred in 71%. 71% indicated a high level of satisfaction with the results of the operation, and 96% said they would undergo the ope ration again. Conclusions: The investigation demonstrated successful weight reduction des pite dietary changes in 80% of patients after VBG. Weight reduction was not influenced by type of, diet but depended on consumption of sweets.