8 Reasons: if You feel Constantly Hungry Post Bariatric Surgery

8 Reasons: If You feel Constantly Hungry Post Bariatric Surgery

The goal of bariatric surgery is to reduce weight, get freedom from the burden of many diseases. People experience early satiety & feel fuller sooner. This restricts their caloric intake. Patients report feeling less hungry due to decreased level of the hunger hormone ghrelin (made in the stomach).However, some patients may report increased appetite after the procedure, particularly those who have had bariatric surgery for more than a year. This can be concerning for post-bariatric patients, who are concerned that they will gain weight if they eat more than the appropriate quantity.

Hunger is a vital biological signal that informs our brains when it\’s time to eat. Our brains get information from our stomach via the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) every two hours. So, if you\’re eating several small meals a day as directed by your bariatric surgeon and team, you shouldn\’t be feeling hungry. However, if you\’re often hungry, it could be due to one of the following factors.

1. You are not eating enough:
You are not consuming enough calories and nutrients throughout the day, which is one of the most obvious reasons you may experience hunger following bariatric surgery. To reach your goal weight after weight reduction surgery, your bariatric care team would advise you to consume 1,000 to 1,200 calories each day. If you\’ve been post-op for more than a year, your calorie demands may have changed due to hormones, exercise levels, and your biological set-point in general.
If you think you\’re hungry because you\’re not eating enough, start tracking your daily food consumption. You may be surprised to learn that you consume less than 1,000 calories per day. Tracking your food consumption will also help you communicate with your bariatric care team about getting your hunger cues under control.

2. You aren\’t getting enough protein in your diet:
Protein is an integral part of the diet of post-bariatric patients. Patients should consume 80 to 100 grams of protein every day. High-protein diets have been shown in numerous trials to keep patients satisfied full for more extended periods. Furthermore, because protein has only four calories per gram (compared to nine calories per gram for carbs and fat), eating a high-protein diet can help you lose weight.

3. Your physical activity has increased:
You may have started increasing your physical activity once you\’ve gotten into the swing of things after bariatric surgery, which is especially frequent in patients who are more than a year post-op and trying to break through that weight plateau. You\’ll burn more calories the more you workout. If you haven\’t raised your calorie and macronutrient budgets in tandem with your increased exercise, this could be the cause of your constant hunger.

4. You are eating too fast:
According to numerous studies, people who eat quickly have a higher appetite and are more prone to overeat. This is caused by not chewing your meal well enough, and it raises awareness about eating while also reducing hunger. Similarly, the longer we chew our food, the longer our brains have to send out fullness signals. One of the reasons your bariatric surgeon and nutritionist will advise you to chew your food correctly is this. Other reasons include food from getting stuck in your smaller pouch and increased food digestion and nutrient absorption.

5. You are not drinking enough liquids:
Your surgeon and dietician will advise you to drink at least 64 ounces of sugar-free liquids every day after bariatric surgery. Proper hydration not only keeps you full but also has the potential to suppress your appetite. Because it is typical for patients to confuse thirst with hunger, we urge that you drink a glass of water before eating a snack or meal if you are starving.

6. You are drinking your calories:
If you\’ve been out of the hospital for more than six wks, you should have started introducing solid foods into your post-bariatric diet. Solid foods elicit a different physiological response in the body than liquids and, therefore, reduce hunger. So, if you\’re feeling constantly hungry following bariatric surgery, it would be a good idea to start adding more high-protein, solid foods to your diet. Bariatric patients commonly use protein smoothies to augment their diet. Similarly, some patients may want to try the pouch reset diet (which consists solely of consuming protein drinks) to get back on track after gaining weight.

7. You are not getting enough sleep:
Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones that influence our sensations of hunger and satiety. These hormonal levels are influenced by sleep, which influences our urge to eat and our ability to stop eating. Sleep-deprived people have higher ghrelin levels, making them feel hungry, and lower leptin levels, making them feel unsatisfied. We recommend sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night to keep your hunger hormones in balance.

8. Your hormones are off-balance:
Whether you are not getting enough sleep, are constantly stressed, have begun taking medications, or have some underlying medical condition, our hormones play a significant role in hunger and desire to eat. Some medical conditions that impact hunger cues and the sense of satiety are diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, premenstrual syndrome, depression, and anxiety disorder. If you believe you have any of these conditions, we recommend you schedule a consultation with your medical provider to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment options.
Conclusion
Constant hunger is your body\’s way of informing you that something is wrong. Unbalanced hormones are nearly always the cause, whether from a poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle choices, or underlying diseases.

If you are experiencing persistent and intense hunger following bariatric surgery, the above suggestions may be helpful. Suppose you are still unable to control your appetite. In that case, we recommend that you contact your bariatric surgeon, who will offer you the proper diagnosis and treatment choices.