Constipation is one of the most common nutrition issues after weight loss surgery. Having anesthesia, taking pain medication, consuming iron and calcium supplements and following a liquid/soft diet can all make it harder to use the bathroom regularly. Ways to manage constipation are increasing sugar free fluid intake to at least 64 oz per day, using a psyllium supplement, and slowly increasing fiber intake depending on current diet stage.
There are 2 types of fiber in our foods- soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber helps with constipation because it absorbs fluid in the GI tract and sticks together with other materials to give bulk to stool, which causes bowel movements to be softer. In addition, insoluble fiber increases transit time, which causes a person to have bowel movements more regularly. Foods that are high in insoluble fiber are whole grains, vegetables, berries, beans, and nuts. A good rule of thumb is to consume at least 14gm of fiber per 1000 kcals.
References:
Isom, K. A., & Majumdar, M. (2022). Pocket guide to bariatric surgery. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Make Every Bite Count With the Dietary Guidelines. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 and Online Materials | Dietary Guidelines for Americans. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials.(opens in a new tab)
Cleveland Clinic. (2021, February 1). What’s the Difference Between Soluble and Insoluble Fiber? Health Essentials. Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-the-difference-between-soluble-and-insoluble-fiber/(opens in a new tab).
