Soda After Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight loss surgery in Houston or Cypress Texas is common, as it is in many places around the world now, including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and gastric bands (lap bands). All these operations result in excellent long term weight loss after surgery compared to medical therapy alone or diet and exercise plans; however, they all require a serious diet and exercise plan to be successful.

One of the diet changes that have to be made is in regards to sodas. I am often asked about drinking coke or other carbonated beverages after bariatric surgery. Most people tell me they heard that that can caused the stomach to stretch out. Well, that is not really the reason why we bariatric surgeons do not want our patients drinking carbonated beverages. The real reasons are two fold.

First, most of these sodas have a lot of calories in them. Drinking calories in any form is truly a waste. Our bodies need food, and the calories in it, as fuel to function. Eating calories causes a digestive process that delivers the calories and nutrients over a prolonged period throughout digestion. Drinking calories results in faster and more direct uptake of calories (especially sugar). This causes a spike in our insulin levels which causes adipogenesis (i.e. fat making!). Well, what about diet sodas, and that take me to the second reason why sodas are a no, no.

The carbonation it self will stretch the pouch or sleeve acutely. This will not lead to big pouches later on, but will result in immediate discomfort and pain. It is not a pleasurable thing to experience. For patients who do this, and do not experience discomfort then the artificial sweeteners can cause abdominal cramps and nausea. Some may not be affected by the sweeteners, and then my suggestion is to let the drink go flat.