Why are you cold after weight loss surgery?

As with all surgeries, weight loss surgery comes with side effects. Some of those side effects can be strange. One of the most interesting side effects is that you can be a lot colder after surgery. You might not notice it at first, but it is something many bariatric patients are faced with. Our bodies are constantly trying to regulate our temperature. When your body breaks down food, you produce energy. The energy is for many functions of the body, but it is also stored as heat. After bariatric surgery, the way your body warms itself is different. The first reason is because obese individuals tend to store more heat because fat acts as insulation. When you lose a large amount of weight, you will have less natural insulation. Another reason is that your metabolism will change. You will be eating fewer calories, which means you will be converting less energy to heat. Your brain will have to adjust to the changes in your body. Due to this, you will experience more shivering and goose bumps than you previously experienced before surgery.

As you get farther out in your journey, you will notice the coldness is not as severe. Once your body gets used to the change, it will start to stabilize. One thing to remember is that this does not necessarily happen to all bariatric patients. So, if you have not experienced this side effect, do not worry. Everyone has different experiences from this surgery.

It can be annoying to always be cold after surgery, but it is something bariatric patients must accept. Our bodies are completely different after weight loss surgery and the way we regulate our temperature is different. The best thing to do is to always be prepared. Take a jacket with you so you have something in case you experience coldness. Keep blankets around you so you can wrap up in them. Just remember to be patient and give your body time to adjust. At the end of the day, the positive side effects outweigh the negative ones by far.

Have YOU experienced significant coldness after weight loss surgery?