FitForMe Bariatric Supplements: Review

There is a new kid on the supplement block in Australia, but are they any good? And should you swap? Let’s take a look at the new FitForMe Bariatric Supplements.

First things first

“Do I really need to take supplements post op?” I hear you ask. “yes!” is my answer… The reason? Supplements are recommended post op for a number of reasons (not jsut because we Dietitians like harping on about them!):

• After a sleeve you’re unlikely to get all of the nutrients you need due to the reduced portion sizes and absorption in your gut.
• There is a large body of scientific research looking at nutrient deficiencies post-op and the benefit of regular supplementation.
• Make sure you are also having regular blood tests (more on that here) over time post op to ensure you’re not developing any deficiencies over time.
• Bariatric-specific multivitamins are the best choice as they have higher levels of specific nutrients important for after weight loss surgery (and even so, you’ll likely need additional supplementation with calcium, iron or B12). Supermarket multivitamins are not a great option.

What is the FitForMe Supplement?

These are new to the market in Australia and have a few pros compared to others on the market:

• There are two varieties: Opti for those with a sleeve or band and Forte for those with a bypass. The Forte has slightly higher levels of particular nutrients required after bypass.
• They come in a chewable and capsule form (if you take the chewable you’ll need additional iron). The chewable is good for the initial stages post op and then the capsules for long term.
• The size of the capsules is really nice – much smaller and easier to swallow than a lot of other options (see pic below). The chewable also tastes pretty good.
• Here’s the biggy though – you only need to take one per day where most other options out there require two capsules per day. I think this is helpful particularly for those of us who forget to take them at all or forget to take the second supplement during the day.
• They have subscription service and follow up with you to check on compliance.

There are few things to bear in mind if you swap to these:

• You will still need to take calcium daily – see this post for more info.
• I would also still recommend taking a vitamin D supplement (either in combination with the calcium or as a one-a-week high dose).
• You may also need additional iron or B12 depending on your levels so don’t be surprised if this is the case.

The bottom line

These are a good option as they are designed specifically for sleeve gastrectomy and do reduce the number of supplements you have to take daily. However, before you swap, please check with your dietitian and make sure you also keep up with your regular blood tests to check if you need additional supplements.