Fasting Experiences of the Patients after Sleeve Gastrectomy: An Observational Cohort Study

Background: Demands for fasting occasionally arise in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, depending on their beliefs. Objectives: In the present study, patients who had undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and experienced fasting at different postoperative times were examined, and the effects of fasting in Ramadan were evaluated. Methods: A total of 206 patients who underwent LSG were included in the study. All participants were asked to complete three separate questionnaires. The first questionnaire consisted of 15 items on general eating habits and fasting. The second questionnaire comprised 7 items, scores on a 10-point scale, assessing the feeling of hunger while fasting and the desire to get food. The third questionnaire included a total of 9 items asked to determine the psychological state. Results: The first fasting was observed 13.6±9.1 months (1-36) after the operation. The mean hunger/food cravings score was 26.1±9.6, and the mean psychological disturbance index score was 6.9±3.8. A total of 42.6% of the patients stated that they lost weight while fasting. There was no significant difference between the genders in terms of food consumption habits. There was no difference between the groups in terms of weight and energy level changes after the initiation of fasting. Conclusion: One year after LSG, most people begin fasting, and women begin their fasting earlier than men. Fasting becomes more difficult after surgery as time passes.