Why Bariatric Vitamins Are Non-Negotiable: A Lifelong Commitment to Your Health with Kate Fuss
You take your vitamins religiously for the first year after surgery, your labs look fine, so you stop. What could go wrong?
Kate Fuss, Physician Assistant-Certified and founder of Banana Bariatrics, has watched patients arrive at clinics unable to walk straight down the hallway, their teeth cracking, skin deteriorating—all because they believed vitamins were temporary.
In this episode, she reveals why your “normal” lab results might be hiding serious deficiencies, what irreversible brain damage from thiamine deficiency actually looks like, and why your body will break down your bones before letting your calcium levels drop. She also shares myths that leave patients vulnerable years after surgery. Kate explains why eating healthy will never be enough, how to spot vitamin deficiencies before they become emergencies, and why one patient’s hair loss was actually the least of her problems.
If you’ve ever thought “my calcium is always normal” means you could skip supplements, or wondered why you’re exhausted despite eating well, this episode could prevent serious complications.
- Why “normal” lab ranges don’t tell the whole story for bariatric patients
- The two-week thiamine window that separates prevention from brain damage
- How your body sacrifices bone health to maintain blood calcium levels
- Warning signs of vitamin deficiency that mimic other conditions
- Why malabsorptive procedures require different supplementation than gastric sleeve
- The real cost of skipping vitamins: from hospital admissions to irreversible damage
Kate Fuss, PA-C is a Surgical Residency trained Physician Assistant from Yale / Norwalk hospitals in Connecticut. She obtained her Masters of Medical Science at Wake Forest School of Medicine in NC.
Kate has over 12 years of clinical and operative experience in Bariatrics, General, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. She additional obtained a Board Certification as a Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management.
Her passion lies in serving weight loss surgery patients throughout their entire operative journey. She carries a special interest in serving those struggling with post-operative weight regain and believes in a whole foods nutritional approach for overall health and wellness.
When Kate has extra time on her hands, she enjoys pouring it inside Banana, being present with her two daughters and husband, and traveling the world with her family to experience new cultures and cuisines.
Connect with Kate Fuss
- Website | bananabariatrics.com
- Instagram | @banana.bariatrics
- Facebook | www.facebook.com/groups/bariatricweightlosssurgery
- Providers | bananabariatrics.com/private-practice/
