Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss, Nutritional Deficiencies, Postoperative Complications, and Adherence to Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Bahrain

Three years ago, a retrospective cohort study was conducted in Bahrain on 341 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery between 2012 and 2017. The study found that while the surgery was effective in accelerating weight loss, it also led to complications such as nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal side-effects. The most common complication was hair loss, reported by 59.5% of patients, which is associated with rapid weight loss and deficiencies of iron, zinc, and other micronutrients. Adherence to dietary and lifestyle recommendations was found to be medium to high, but inconsistent. The study concluded that patients require nutritional counselling to sustain weight loss outcomes and reduce rates of nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal side-effects following bariatric surgery.