PREVENTING WEIGHT LOSS IN SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME

Dr. Tatanya Hofmekler

Weight loss is a common problem for children and adults with short bowel syndrome. This is because foods eaten are not properly absorbed. Foods pass through the GI tract too quickly which reduces absorption. As a result, weight loss can occur if daily calories are not increased to make up for what is lost from malabsorption. Emphasizing foods high in protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates in the diet can help in two ways:

• making sure you are getting enough of the essential nutrients you need
• thickening the stools so you are not running to the bathroom with urgent diarrhea 

Examples of these high calorie foods include:

• Meats
• Beans
• Eggs
• Potatoes
• Nuts
• Hard Cheese
• Nutritional shakes (Boost, Ensure, Kate Farms)
• Breads, cereals, pastas, rice

While every case of SBS is different, calorie needs for weight maintenance or weight gain may be almost 50% more than someone would need normally. That means someone who typically follows a 2000 calorie diet may need around 2500 to 3000 calories with SBS. Keeping a food diary and tracking weight status with a healthcare professional will give the best calorie range needed to ensure a healthy weight with SBS.

The best way to ensure calorie needs are met and improve absorption is to have 5-6 smaller, more frequent meals rather than 3 large meals throughout the day. Also, add more whole, unprocessed foods to your diet and reduce processed, sugary foods to help with digestibility and provide maximum nutrient delivery.