Bridging Clinical Success and Nutritional Risk: Public Health Challenges After Bariatric Surgery

Bakheet, Tasneem Mohammed; Abdou, Farida Sami; Ghaleb, Alaa Ahmed; Abdelmageed, Samer; Roshdy, Eman

doi:10.21608/smj.2025.382604.1568

Bridging Clinical Success and Nutritional Risk: Public Health Challenges After Bariatric Surgery

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ public health & community medicine department, faculty of medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

² Family medicine department faculty of medicine SOhag University

³ Internal Medicine Sohag university

⁴ General surgery at sohag University

⁵ Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University.

10.21608/smj.2025.382604.1568

Abstract

Background & rationale: Bariatric surgery has significantly improved weight loss and metabolic health, revolutionizing the treatment of morbid obesity and associated comorbidities. However, additional public health challenges are brought forward by its growing popularity, especially those linked to nutritional deficiencies following surgery

Aim: This study compares sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with respect to micronutrient outcomes one year postoperatively and evaluates their implications for population health strategies

Methods: A prospective, comparative study was conducted at Sohag University Hospital including 50 patients (25 SG, 25 RYGB). Participants were followed for one year postoperatively with serial monitoring of BMI, comorbidities, and key micronutrient levels

Results: Both procedures resulted in significant weight loss and improvement in hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. However, RYGB was associated with a higher incidence of vitamin B12, calcium, and iron deficiencies. SG showed better micronutrient retention, though both groups required supplementation

Conclusion: Despite both techniques showing marked reductions in BMI and chronic disease risk, RYGB patients demonstrated significantly greater deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate long-term nutritional monitoring into national obesity and surgical care protocols.

Public Health Implications: Postoperative micronutrient screening is Mandatory at regular intervals.in addition to Supplementation subsidies for vulnerable populations. Its highly recommended to train general practitioners in post-bariatric nutritional care and to Incorporate bariatric outcomes into national NCD surveillance programs.

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