How much protein do I need after bariatric surgery?

We all know protein is SUPER important after bariatric surgery. Heck, you’ve probably heard your surgeon and/or dietitian mention it a million times!

But how much protein do you really need to eat each day?

This should be covered in your program’s preop education. However, if you need a refresher, I’ve got you covered!

First, let’s start with some scientific facts. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommends a daily protein intake of 1.0-1.5 grams per kilogram of ideal body weight.

Uhmmm, what?

If that sounded super confusing, don’t stress! This is just the science behind the protein range that most programs use for patients after surgery.

Dietitians have used the above recommendation to calculate a daily protein range that patients can aim for. This means that if your protein intake is within that range, you will most likely be getting the above recommendation (1.0-1.5 g protein/kg IBW). This will work for most people – the exception might be if you are really, really tall!

Based on this information, the range that most programs recommend is between 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. It’s generally preferred that you’re on the higher end of that range long-term after surgery (ex. closer to 80 grams/day), and your program may recommend closer to 80-100 grams of protein per day if you’re really active. Always check with your program and follow the guidelines they give you!

This can be really hard to do when your portions are small, your diet is restricted, and you may have an aversion or intolerance to some high protein foods. I know it can feel impossible to get in 60-80 grams of protein per day, but I promise you it’s not!

Challenging? Yes. But impossible? Definitely not.

A good place to start is to figure out exactly how much protein you are getting in right now. This will give you some insight on how close (or far) you are from the recommended 60-80 grams per day. There are some great apps you can download that will help you track your current protein intake (Baritastic is of my favourites. It’s designed for bariatric surgery so it’s really comprehensive, AND it has a barcode scanner to make logging your food a lot faster You can download it here).

Knowing how much protein you are getting in can help guide the goal you make for yourself around protein. You want to make sure it’s realistic so that you set yourself up for success! For example, if you’re currently getting 55 grams of protein, 70-75 grams would be a reasonable goal. BUT, if you’re currently getting in 30 grams of protein, it’s better to start by aiming for 60 grams of protein each day.

If you’re struggling to meet your protein intake, be sure to reach out to your bariatric team.