Obesity surgeries are linked to a special treatment plan drawn up by the attending physician to ensure the success of the surgery and avoid any complications. With the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, those concerned with these surgeries will have questions about the impact of fasting on their treatment plans. What measures should those who underwent obesity or weight loss surgery take before fasting?

Can a weight surgery patient fast?

What are weight surgeries?

Bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure that aims to help obese people lose excess weight and reduce the risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Weight surgeries are usually resorted to in certain cases, after the person has not succeeded in losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise.

Generally, bariatric surgeries are performed in the following cases:

  • The person's body mass index is 40 or greater.

  • The BMI is 35-40, and the person has a disease that will improve with weight loss, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

  • The person has tried other healthy weight loss methods, such as diet and exercise, but without significant results.

There are several types of bariatric surgeries, such as:

gastric band

In this procedure, a belt is placed around the stomach, which makes the person feel full after eating less food.


The belt contains an inflatable balloon, and is placed around the upper part of the stomach, which creates a small pocket in the stomach above the belt with a narrow opening that reaches the rest of the stomach.

The balloon is inflated or deflated to adjust the size of the belt.

gastric bypass

In this surgery, the upper part of the stomach is connected to the small intestine, and this leads to a decrease in the available volume of food, and makes the person feel full sooner, and also leads to a decrease in the absorption of calories.

stomach cut (sleeve gastrectomy)

Part of the stomach is removed, so the person cannot eat as well as they used to, and feel full faster.

Can a weight-loss surgery patient fast?

Dieticians at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar recommend that patients who have undergone bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery not to fast during the first six months following bariatric surgery, in order to avoid any health complications.

What are the rules of fasting in the month of Ramadan for patients with weight surgery?

In the event that the patient is allowed to fast, he is advised to pay attention to certain matters. Sahar Al-Shammari, a clinical nutrition specialist in the Department of Bariatric Surgery at Hamad Medical Corporation, says, “Proper nutrition is a key factor in ensuring the success of obesity surgery and its long-term impact. Nutritional foods, nutritional supplements, and the amount consumed of proteins or vitamins prescribed by the doctor can cause malnutrition, which in turn leads to damage to body tissues, emaciation and loss of energy.

Al-Shammari explained, "The body's ability to withstand fasting varies from person to person, so patients who underwent obesity surgery should not make any adjustments during the month of Ramadan to the quantity or quality of food they consume on regular days, so that the only difference is limited to the timing of meals and the arrangement of food." according to the personal circumstances of each patient.

And she stressed - in a statement published by Hamad Medical Corporation - the need for obesity surgery patients to avoid eating fatty meals or that contain a high amount of sugar, while moderating salt consumption.

It also recommended not to eat foods rich in spices and hot spices, and those that contain a high percentage of acidity, such as lemon fruits.

Al-Shammari stressed the need for patients to regularly eat meals, because eating at the specified time plays a major role in completing the fast, and also reduces the severity of the health risks associated with it.

Therefore, the patient should eat 4 to 5 meals between breakfast and suhoor.

What is the ideal eating time for bariatric surgery patients?

The HMC dietician answered, “Patients should take into account the following times when eating their meals during Ramadan: Iftar immediately after the call to prayer, the main meal immediately after Maghrib prayer, a snack two hours after Iftar, and a light evening meal (Ghabga) at At 10 or 11 at night, then the suhoor meal shortly before dawn.

Al-Shammari indicated that the body's ability to tolerate diets varies from one patient to another, but patients who underwent obesity surgery should start their breakfast by drinking water, or eating dates or soup to prepare the body for the main meal that they are supposed to eat after Maghrib prayer.

The clinical nutritionist advised eating food slowly and chewing it well, because this prevents overeating and reduces stomach acid reflux and facilitates digestion.

She also stressed the need to provide the body with fluids to avoid dehydration during the month of Ramadan, especially for patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

And she warned against drinking a large amount of water, juices or other liquids during breakfast, while stressing the importance of drinking a sufficient amount of fluids between meals, at a rate of approximately every hour, in order to ensure drinking the equivalent of two liters of fluids per day.

The nutritionist said, "The consumption of stimulants such as tea and coffee should be reduced, as they are diuretic, which leads to the loss of a large amount of body fluids and increased thirst during fasting. Soft drinks and sweetened juices should also be avoided, because they contain high levels of sugar, and can cause lead to an increase in blood sugar levels.

She recommended that patients continue to practice physical activity and adhere to advice that includes:

  • Avoid sleeping immediately after eating, as this may lead to health problems.

  • Stop eating when you feel full to avoid stomach acid reflux.

  • Commitment to taking nutritional supplements or vitamins prescribed by the attending physician.

  • Not to stop practicing physical activity during the month of Ramadan, but the appropriate times should be chosen to practice it, and it is better to be at least two hours after Iftar.