Why some bariatric procedures don't last

Bonnie: I have heard from a few clients who chose to have gastric bypass or other bariatric procedures to lose weight and/or eliminate diabetes. These procedures are a Catch-22. The surgery works for stopping diabetes because it immediately cuts off the negative epigenetic messages that push towards obesity and insulin resistance. Unfortunately, for individuals who do not strictly adhere to the major lifestyle changes needed to staying diabesity-free, five to six years later, the diabetes and/or obesity returns.

In clients who have had this happen and wonder why, I explain that the epigenetic signalling, which had previously been cut after the procedure, was rerouted so the negative messages once again could reach the genes responsible for diabesity. The eventual result is the return of diabetes and/or obesity. Unfortunately, you can outsmart the body for a while, but not forever! The sad thing is, in the clients I spoke to, this was never explained as a possibility prior to performing the procedures.

It is possible that with an optimal, individualized diet and lifestyle, the epigenes may not express negative messages and our genes will stay turned off. But how many people can and are willing to eat ideally? It takes hard work and will power.

The other issue to take into account when considering bariatric procedures is nutrient loss. People who have these procedures need be extremely vigilant with getting bloodwork and nutrient supplementation to make sure that they are absorbing key nutrients such as B-12, Vitamin D, and iron.