Why Am I Losing Weight After Hernia Surgery?

Medically reviewed by Joshua Ellenhorn, MD, general surgeon at Surgery Group LA · Reviewed October 14, 2026

Some weight loss after hernia surgery is common, and it's usually mild and short-lived. Most of it comes from eating less for a while: your appetite is lower, pain medicine can make you queasy, and after some operations you're on liquids and soft foods. Once you're eating normally again, your weight usually levels off. Weight loss that keeps going, or that comes with vomiting, fever or trouble eating and drinking, is a reason to call your surgeon.

Why am I losing weight after hernia surgery?

For most people, it comes down to taking in fewer calories than usual during the first days and weeks of recovery:

• Lower appetite. Anesthesia, soreness and pain medicine can dull your appetite or upset your stomach for the first few days. That's expected. Early on, drinking enough matters more than finishing meals (University Hospitals).
• Smaller, lighter meals. Many people eat simpler food while they recover, and after hiatal hernia repair you're on a soft diet for a few weeks (more below).
• Constipation and bloating. Pain medicine and less moving around can slow your bowels, which makes eating less appealing. Fiber and plenty of water help (American College of Surgeons).
• Feeling run down. Surgery is tiring, and it's normal not to feel like cooking or eating much for a few days.

Weight loss after hiatal hernia surgery

Hiatal hernia repair is a different operation from a groin or belly-button repair. The surgeon works where the esophagus meets the stomach, often wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus (a fundoplication) to stop reflux. Swelling there makes swallowing feel tight at first, so you start on liquids and move to soft foods for a few weeks. One academic program asks patients to stay on a liquid/soft diet for about 3 weeks (University Hospitals); others continue soft food for up to 6 weeks (Guy's and St Thomas' NHS). Burping can be harder and bloating more common for a while.

Because meals are smaller and slower, weight loss tends to be more noticeable after this operation. To keep your weight up, make your drinks count (milk, smoothies, protein shakes), eat small meals often, and tell your surgical team if you feel you're losing weight (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS).

Weight loss after umbilical or inguinal hernia surgery

After a belly-button (umbilical) or groin (inguinal) repair, most people go back to regular food soon after surgery, once any nausea passes (American College of Surgeons). Any weight change is usually small and comes from the lower appetite and lighter eating in the first week or so. Most people are back to normal activities in about 2 to 3 weeks. If you're eating normally and still losing weight, mention it to your surgeon.

Can a hernia cause weight loss?

Not usually. A groin or belly-button hernia doesn't typically affect your weight. A large hiatal hernia can cause heartburn or make swallowing uncomfortable, which may lead some people to eat less. If you're losing weight without trying, before or after surgery, it should be checked on its own rather than blamed on the hernia.

Will my stomach shrink after hernia repair?

The repair removes the bulge, so the area often looks flatter once the swelling settles. It doesn't remove belly fat or shrink your stomach. Swelling and a firm area near the incision are common for a few weeks; see why there may be a hard lump after hernia surgery.

Losing weight on purpose after hernia surgery

If you'd like to lose weight, wait until you've healed before cutting calories hard; your body needs protein and energy to repair the tissue. Walking is encouraged from the start. Avoid lifting more than 10 pounds or strenuous exercise for at least 4 to 6 weeks, and longer after complex or repeat repairs (American College of Surgeons). Ask your surgeon before restarting core workouts.

How to eat well while you recover

• Eat small meals more often instead of three large ones.
• Include protein at each meal, such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, fish or beans.
• Add fiber and drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to avoid straining (American College of Surgeons). After hiatal hernia repair, follow your surgeon's soft-diet plan instead.
• Skip fizzy drinks for a few weeks after hiatal hernia repair.

For more ideas, see our guide to diet after hernia surgery.

When to call your surgeon

• You keep losing weight after you're back to eating normally, or you can't eat enough.
• Nausea or vomiting keeps you from eating or drinking.
• You have a fever above 101°F.
• Pain keeps getting worse, or the incision is red, swollen, bleeding or draining foul-smelling fluid.
• You haven't had a bowel movement 2 to 3 days after surgery.

(Warning signs from the American College of Surgeons.)

Get care right away if

• you have sudden, severe belly pain with vomiting, which can mean a trapped intestine (American College of Surgeons);
• after hiatal hernia repair, you can't keep fluids down, you vomit blood, food gets stuck when you swallow, or you have severe chest or belly pain (Guy's and St Thomas' NHS).

How we follow you after hernia surgery

At your follow-up visit we check the incision, how you're eating, and whether your weight has settled. If something isn't right, we'll look for the cause. You can read more about hernia surgery at Surgery Group LA, including umbilical hernia repair and inguinal hernia repair, and what to expect in our week-by-week recovery guide.

Talk to a hernia surgeon

If you're worried about your weight after surgery, or you have a hernia and want to know your options, we're happy to help. Our surgeons see patients at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Office Towers, 8635 W 3rd St, Suite 880W, Los Angeles. Call (310) 861-7493 or request an appointment.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice.