To ensure the best results after your weight loss surgery, you will have to commit to significant lifestyle and diet changes – both before and after your procedure.
However, while this may seem daunting, our highly-skilled and very approachable baraitric dietitians are here to help you at every step along the way.
Below, we explain what a bariatric dietitian is and what our role is during your weight loss journey.
What is a Bariatric Dietitian?
An Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) is a university-qualified professional in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
The APD credential is the only credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and many private health funds.
A Bariatric Dietitian is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian that has undergone further specialised training in the area of Bariatric Surgery.
At Brisbane Obesity Clinic, we have two Bariatric Dietitians, Annette Williams and Annette Pinto.
How can our Bariatric Dietitian in Brisbane help you?
A significant part of bariatric surgery is diet and lifestyle change prior to and post surgery.
We are here to support YOU along your weight loss journey as well as to:
- Help you understand the role nutrition plays before and after weight loss surgery
- Explain the importance of the pre-surgery diet, what it involves and how long you will need to follow it for
- Guide you through the different stages of the post-surgery diet (liquid, purée, soft and normal textured diet phases)
- Teach you about some key topics including the importance of protein, fibre, hydration, portion control, mindful eating and developing healthy eating behaviours
- Discuss your short term and long term goals
- Provide accountability
- Assist you with managing any diet-related symptoms pre and post-weight loss surgery
- Tailor your meal plans according to your nutritional needs, likes and dislikes, any allergies and/or intolerances you may have as well as your lifestyle requirements
- Monitor your vitamin and mineral levels through regular blood tests for the first year after weight loss surgery
Research shows that structured dietetic counselling and follow-up care, together with a multidisciplinary healthcare team after bariatric surgery, is a vital contributor to successful long-term outcomes.
What does a typical work day look like for a Bariatric Dietitian?
While the day starts and ends with checking and responding to emails, the majority of our work days are filled with initial and follow-up appointments conducted in person or via telehealth (phone / zoom).
In addition to this, we keep up-to-date with research, follow up on blood test results, update the Bariatric Surgery Registry (BSR) and write blog posts such as this.
BSR is a quality and safety registry aimed to measure the outcomes for patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Australia and New Zealand.
Read more about our two bariatric dietitians in Brisbane, or contact us, by clicking here.
