Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is more than just a procedure to reduce stomach size; it’s a powerful tool that helps regulate and enhance metabolism, making long-term weight loss achievable. When you undergo bariatric surgery, it changes how your body processes and uses energy, impacting how you lose weight and keep it off. It goes beyond calorie restriction, affecting the body’s hormonal balance, digestion, and metabolism.
NJ Advanced Surgical Solutions is dedicated to helping patients achieve sustainable weight loss. In this article, we explore how bariatric surgery influences metabolism and offer practical tips for maintaining a high metabolic rate post-surgery to ensure sustained weight loss.
The role of metabolism in weight loss
Your metabolism is the process that converts the food you eat into energy. It regulates the balance between the calories you consume and those you burn. This delicate energy balance is a core component of maintaining a healthy weight. The rate at which your body burns energy — your metabolic rate — can vary based on genetics, lifestyle, and age.
Having an efficient metabolism is crucial when trying to lose weight. A fast or highly efficient metabolism means your body uses more calories for energy rather than storing them as fat. Conversely, a slower or less efficient metabolism can make it challenging to lose weight, even if you cut calories or exercise regularly. Bariatric surgery helps alter your metabolic processes in several beneficial ways, making it easier to achieve and maintain weight loss.
How does bariatric surgery affect your metabolism?
Reduces appetite-regulating hormones
After bariatric surgery, your body produces fewer hunger hormones, such as ghrelin, which is commonly known as the “hunger hormone.” Ghrelin plays a significant role in triggering hunger. By reducing the production of this hormone, bariatric surgery helps you feel less hungry, making it easier to stick to a healthy, lower-calorie diet and naturally reducing your caloric intake.
Increases metabolic rate
Bariatric surgery can help increase your resting metabolic rate (RMR) by altering the body’s hormonal and digestive processes. With the significant weight reduction that often follows surgery, the body adapts by boosting the rate at which it burns calories at rest. This metabolic increase supports sustained weight loss, making it easier to keep the weight off long-term.
Enhances fat metabolism
The procedure alters how your body metabolizes fat by increasing the level of bile acids in the stomach. These bile acids are essential for fat digestion and metabolism. Bariatric surgery also affects the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR), which regulates bile acid production. The result is improved fat metabolism, contributing to steady, healthy weight loss.
Changes gut bacteria composition
Bariatric surgery affects the bacteria in your digestive system, specifically your gut microbiome. The surgery shifts the gut environment to favor certain beneficial bacteria that help break down fiber, reduce inflammation, and boost metabolism. These bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids that regulate appetite and promote efficient energy use, contributing to weight loss.
Modifies hormone levels
One of the effects of bariatric surgery is on hormones that regulate metabolism, including insulin and leptin. After surgery, your body becomes more effective at controlling blood sugar levels through insulin regulation. Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells that helps regulate appetite, reaches optimal levels after surgery, assisting with appetite control and reducing cravings.
How to increase metabolism after bariatric surgery?
Focus on high-protein meals
Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass, which is related to your metabolic rate. Eating a diet rich in lean proteins like chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes helps preserve muscle and keeps you burning calories. Protein also aids in tissue repair, which is crucial for healing. Incorporating protein into each meal can help you maintain a steady metabolic rate.
Stay hydrated
Proper hydration is crucial for metabolic health, as it supports digestion and nutrient absorption. Drinking enough water daily (at least 64 ounces, unless advised otherwise) helps your body process calories more efficiently. Dehydration can slow down your metabolism, so aim to keep a bottle of water nearby to meet your hydration needs.
Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity can help boost your metabolic rate, especially strength training exercises that build muscle. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, even at rest, so incorporating exercises like weight lifting or resistance training can increase your metabolism and help maintain your weight loss. Cardiovascular activities like walking, cycling, or swimming also support heart health and burn additional calories.
Include fiber-rich foods
High-fiber foods like vegetables, whole grains, and fruits support digestive health and promote feelings of fullness. Fiber helps prevent constipation, a common post-surgery side effect, and aids in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. By incorporating fiber into your diet, you can also stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent cravings, making it easier to maintain your weight.
Bariatric surgery provides a unique opportunity to improve metabolism and promote sustainable weight loss. By understanding how this surgery enhances metabolic processes, you can make informed choices about your diet and lifestyle. Schedule a consultation at NJ Advanced Surgical Solutions, they support you in achieving optimal results and provides guidance and resources for your journey to a healthier life. By following these tips and staying committed to a balanced lifestyle, you can achieve and maintain your ideal weight.