Does weight loss surgery reduce your hunger?

[Alwaysoneoddsock]

Hi,

I’d like to ask anyone who has had weight loss surgery - did you feel less hungry? What surgery did you have?

I’m seriously considering surgery to help me reach a healthy weight. I’ve struggled with my weight all my life and I’m getting bigger and bigger now in peri menopause. I would pay privately (I’ve paid so much out over the years to clubs, for apps, meal replacements, hypnosis etc. not to mention a wardrobe in every size from 10 - 20 that paying for surgery probably makes financial sense!).

I enjoy healthy food. My problem is I am always super hungry and feel faint and get hangry very easily. So my portions are too big and I snack way, way too much. I would love to eat a chicken salad and be satisfied with that but at the moment if I have a chicken salad for lunch I feel faint by 2pm. Would surgery take the need for lots of food away ? Or is it simply that you can’t eat as much but still feel hungry?

i had a gastric bypass about 16 years ago. Absolutely reduced my hunger because you feel full so quickly you actually feel ill looking at food.

16 years on i'm pretty much back to normal and an average size 14. i was a size 8 pre children. Was a size 22 before surgery

Thank you @jolaylasofia I think I need that to change my mindset about food.

I had a gastric sleeve 2 months ago

It severely restricts both what you can eat and your hunger.

The area of the stomach that one of the hormones that regulates hunger - Ghrelin - is produced is removed during surgery which means that you are less hungry (well it was by my surgeon)

I'm not hungry in the same way I used to be - and there's a lot of getting over the head hunger rather than actual hunger. It's more of a gnawing feeling rather than stomach rumbles now.

Thank you @LittleMissQuiz. Are you glad you did it? Any tips?

If hunger is the problem, can you try keto at least? It absolutely sorted out my binge eating. I went from 22 to 10 within about ten months and didn’t have to endure surgery etc.

OP have you had blood sugars checked?

Honestly I know how annoying it is when people come on offering advice that has nothing to do with what you asked, but I say this with care and concern. It's really not normal to feel faint with hunger shortly after a low-sugar meal like chicken and salad.

Thank you@Seddon I did the Zoe program and one of the tests is to wear a blood sugar monitor for two weeks. My blood sugars run at the lowest end of normal. When I eat they rise the normal amount and then they dip the normal amount but sometimes this puts me into the red (low blood sugar area) because my baseline rate is low. I think that’s why I always feel hungry. My tests came back that I can process carbs well but not fats (shock as there is diabetes in the family). The program suggested I eat more slow release carbs which do help me feel better but I don’t seem able to lose weight when I do this. Thank you @AbsoIutelyLovely I did try keto in the past but didn’t stick to it. You’re right though I should try it again before spending money. I need to be sensible with fats though as the Zoe tests have been a wake up call that my body needs looking after and I can’t keep abusing it.

That sounds tricky, and weight loss is hard enough already! Have you considered a private dietitian as a last stop before surgery? I'd be worried about surgery potentially limiting your ability to eat well when your blood sugar needs you to.

I was thinking of surgery but then thought I'd give Ozempic a shot. I've managed to lose a little over 3 stones in 15 weeks. It's taken my hunger away. Now I'm trying to retrain myself on portion size and not snacking. Once I've got that under control I shall gradually reduce the Ozempic.

Yes it does help with hungry but it doesn't help with emotional aspects of eating.
I have lost about 30kilos with surgery which is a success but still had 20 to go. I have recey started ozempic and this is helping me shift the last lot.
My plan once at my goal weight is to join a habit based nutrition program for 12 months to help me stay at goal.

Thank you @Seddon @caringcarer @DrJump I wish I could just behave around food. I read the side effects of ozempic and it put me off. I know this is completely irrational as there are complications to surgery and to being obese but I still can’t stop myself from eating!

Not everyone gets side effects. I have had very few. A bit constipated when I titrated up from 0.5 to 1.0 dose but only lasted a couple of days.

Have you tried SW? If you like healthy foods and need bigger portions and carbs/ low fat then it sounds suitable. It gets a bad rap on here for some reason but it's basically a balanced healthy eating plan. I'm 3 stone down ,started at Xmas and I'm never hungry and eat loads as I've always had a big appetite.

Hi all,

What are your experiences of online weight management? (e.g., what aspects of the programme was useful, how was it structured, was it group based)

Within online weight management, what should research focus on? (e.g., should it focus on the content, the accessibility, delivery mode etc.)

A research team based in the South-West are looking to develop a research project around online weight management services. Anything you’d like to share, comment, or discuss would be greatly appreciated!