IS FASTING ALLOWED AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY?

Together with the month of Ramadan the summer heat has started. In these days balanced and healthy diet became very important especially for those, who want to keep a fast.

The biggest obstacle for fasting people who have had bariatric surgery is long hunger and thirst. In the summer months fast lasts for 17-18 hours a day, what for bariatric patients means the severe hunger and thirst and cause insufficient intake of macro and micro-nutrients.

After iftar, just 3-4 hours people spend awake. This time is not enough to ensure enough nutrition. Food that bariatric patients can get at one time is limited, it is also not recommended to eat solid and liquid food together. For that reason most of the food they need to consume during the day is removed from daily diet, what results in inadequate fluid intake.

Rapid intake of solid and liquid food in large quantities after long hunger will result in indigestion and distention. Excess food and fluid intake as well as connected solid and liquid food intake can cause vomiting. Vomiting will also increase dehydration and inadequate nutrient intake. Moreover, consumption of traditional ramadan meals, with excess of fat and sugar after a long hunger can cause dumping syndrome.

For these reasons, fasting for bariatric patient in the first year after surgery is harmful and forbidden; If the patient’s weight loss at the end of the first post-operative year is adequate, patients are not struggling from renal disorders or any other condition demanding persistent drug usage, the patient may be able to fast.