Nutrition Care in Bariatric Surgery

Nutrition Care in Bariatric Surgery

Welcome to the Nutrition Care in Bariatric Surgery Systematic Review. The 2017 expert workgroup focused on four (4) subtopic areas:

  • Post-operative Medical Nutrition Therapy
  • Post-operative Energy Needs
  • Post-operative Energy Intake
  • Post-operative Macronutrient Intake

Key Findings:  This systematic review found that undergoing bariatric surgery resulted in a clinically meaningful and statistically significant decrease in resting metabolic rate (RMR), as high as 26% at one year post-surgery, which was sustained at two years. As expected, there was a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in post-operative self-reported energy intake, which was a high as 72% in the first six months after surgery but only 28% to 38% at four and five years post-surgery. No statistically significant relationship was found between post-operative macronutrient distribution and post-operative weight loss. Patients receiving medical nutrition therapy (MNT) from a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) for two to six visits during the first year post-surgery had a significant excess weight loss ranging from 60% to 80% and significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) ranging from 5% to 31% at 12 months. However, research is limited regarding the effect of post-operative MNT on behavior change.

Use the links on the left to view the evidence analysis. Expand the section below titled Project Team and Disclosures for a listing of individuals who contributed to  the development of the systematic review, disclosures and funding information.

  • Bariatric Surgery Project Team and Disclosures (2014-2017)

    The following individuals contributed their valuable time and expertise to this project.

    Workgroup Members

    • Nina M. Crowley, PhD, RDN, LD, Chair
      Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Coordinator, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
    • Laura B. Andromalos, MS, CDE, RD, LDN (joined July 2015)
      Clinical Dietitian, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
    • Kellene A. Isom, MS, RD, LDN, CAGS
      Bariatric Program Director, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
    • Lilian Craggs-Dino, DHA, RDN, LDN, CLT
      Bariatric Dietitian and Support Group Coordinator, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA
    • Amanda I. Lynch, PhD, RD
      Assistant Professor, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
    • Jennifer L. Brown, MSc, RDA
      Dietitian, The Ottawa Hospital Bariatric Centre of Excellence, Ottawa, ON, Canada
    • Julie Parrot, MS, RD (resigned July 2015)
      Morganville, NJ, USA

    Project Managers

    • Deepa Handu, PhD, RD (starting June 1, 2017)
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
    • Erica Gradwell, MS, RDN (starting May 10, 2017)
      Independent Contractors, Arvada, CO, USA
    • Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN (through May 31, 2015)
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lead Analyst

    • Diane DellaValle, PhD, RDN, LDN
      Associate Professor, Marywood University, Scranton, PA, USA

    Evidence Analysts

    • Ellen K. Bowser, MS, RDN, LDN, RN, FAND
      Associate in Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
    • Erika Davis, MS, RDN
      Clinical Research Coordinator, Rush University, Chicago, IL
    • Lisa Davis, MS, RD
      Clinical Nutritionist, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
    • Anne O. Garceau, MS, RD
      Nutritionist, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
    • Erica Gradwell, MS, RD
      Independent Contractor, Arvada, CO, USA
    • Heidi Gunderson, MS, RD, CDE
      Dietitian, Lakeview Hospital, St. Paul, MN, USA
    • Amy Huang, RDN
      Marketing Manager, Lonza, Ltd, Bassel, Switzerland
    • Charlene G. Harkins, EdD, RD, LD, FAND
      University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, USA
    • Kathy Hoy, PhD, MEd, RDN
      Wilmington, DE, USA
    • Namibia Lebron-Torres, MS
      Research Coordinator, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
    • Nichole McGrath, MEd, RD, LDN
      Consultant, South Lyon, MI, USA
    • Lisa Moloney, MS, RDN, LDN
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
    • Telma V. Moreira, MS
      Consultant, Houston, TX, USA
    • Keiy C. Murofushi, MS, RD
      Food Services and Clinical Nutrition, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
    • Constantina Papoutsakis, PhD, RD
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
    • Hope S. Paul, MS, RD, CDE
      CDE Coach, Weight Watchers, Export, PA, USA
    • Megan Piotrowski, MS
      Research Assistant, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
    • Joan Pleuss, MS, RDN
      Retired, Milwaukee, WI, USA
    • Maja Redzic, MS
      Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
    • Jessica Soldavini, MPH, RDN
      PhD Student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
    • Jessica West, MS, RDN
      Clinical Dietitian, St. Charles Health System, Bend, OR, USA
    • Heather Valentine, MS, RDN
      Research Administrative Assistant, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
    • Jane Ziegler, DCN, RD, LDN
      Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    Financial Contributors

    • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
    • Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group


    Disclosures of Potential Conflict of Interest: In the interest of full disclosure, the Academy has adopted the policy of revealing relationships workgroup members have with companies that sell products or services that are relevant to this topic. Workgroup members are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest by completing the Academy Conflict of Interest Form. It should not be assumed that these financial interests will have an adverse impact on the content, but they are noted here to fully inform readers.

    • Lillian Craggs-Dino – consultant for Bariatric Fusion, Inc.
    • Amanda Lynch – Principal Investigator on a research study related to bariatric surgery and patient experiences
    • Jennifer Brown – Principal Investigator on a University of Ottawa grant