NUTRITION

Preoperative Assessment and Nutritional Counseling

The Center for Human Nutrition at UCLA works closely with the bariatric surgical program to provide ongoing support for our patients. Patients are seen before surgery by a physician for a general medical evaluation to determine whether there are any medical issues that should delay or preclude surgery. Usually no complicating factors are found, but some patients are referred for additional evaluation, most often for cardiac or pulmonary studies. At the preoperative visit the patient also receives extensive instruction from a registered dietitian on a healthy, low calorie, high protein diet as well as instruction about the initial diet after surgery. Patients consume high protein, liquid meals for the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. Using bioimpedance analysis, each patient's body fat percentage and resting metabolic rate is determined and a realistic initial target weight is calculated. Ideally all patients are seen 2, 6 and 12 weeks after surgery, as the diet is advanced at these points. Patients can be seen long term if they wish. At each visit the patient is seen by both the physician and the dietitian.

For patients who are not candidates for surgery or who would like more behavioral intervention, the Center offers a Saturday morning program. The RFO (Risk Factor Obesity) program provides individual visits with a physician and/or dietitian as needed as well as a weekly support group led by a therapist, nutrition lecture by a dietician and behavioral lecture (exercise and lifestyle change).

The Center can be reached directly at (310) 206-1987.