Celebrating Heart Health After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
The obesity epidemic continues to contribute to health problems and cardiovascular risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), and sleep disorders (sleep apnea).1
Thankfully, metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), such as gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) and sleeve gastrectomy, is a durable and long-term weight management option for obesity. The significant reduction in body weight and lifestyle change resulting from MBS supports cardiovascular health, healthy blood sugars within a normal range, and other weight-related comorbidities. 2
After MBS, the responsibility lies in following a healthy lifestyle to reap the long-term benefits of surgery and maintain sufficient weight loss. While there are specific bariatric nutrition and diet guidelines to follow due to the nature of the surgery, heart-healthy foods, and lifestyle behaviors can be incorporated to support cardiovascular outcomes.
This blog discusses the prevalence of cardiovascular events in obese patients and how lifestyle intervention resulting from MBS supports a healthier quality of life. We also list heart-healthy foods to include in your bariatric diet.
Lifestyle Intervention for Cardiovascular Health
Unfortunately, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States.3 According to the CDC, one in every five deaths is due to heart disease.4
The good news is that metabolic and bariatric surgery is shown to aid cardiovascular function by supporting healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood flow to the heart muscle, and combating metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation.5
These supportive changes result from lifestyle interventions, including diet modifications, physical activity, and behavioral changes. A bariatric diet and heart-healthy practices go hand in hand.
Heart-Healthy Foods
Heart-healthy foods include those nutritionally dense with vitamins and minerals found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Other essential food choices include those high in fiber, low in total and saturated fat, and low in calories.
Aim to consume foods that provide “good” fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids and monosaturated fats. These healthy fats include fatty fish, olive oil, and nuts.
Plant sterols and stanols can also impact heart health. These naturally occurring compounds are found in plants, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Since these compounds have a similar structure to cholesterol, they play a role in the digestive system to help absorb cholesterol in the body. In turn, this process supports healthy cholesterol levels.
