Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Purpose:</bold> To identify the multidimensional characteristics of early dietary management experiences among patients after metabolic bariatric surgery using a patient journey map, and to provide evidence for optimizing postoperative dietary support and health guidance for this population. <bold>Methods:</bold> A descriptive longitudinal qualitative study was conducted. Patients after metabolic bariatric surgery were recruited for semi-structured interviews at multiple postoperative stages. Data were analyzed using content analysis, and a patient journey map was developed. <bold>Results:</bold> Along the timeline of postoperative dietary management, 31 themes were summarized across three dimensions (behavior, emotion, and pain points), corresponding to three phases: 9 themes in the liquid diet adaptation phase, 12 themes in the semi-liquid/soft diet transition phase, and 10 themes in the low-fat solid diet restructuring phase. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Early dietary management experiences of patients after metabolic bariatric surgery show distinct phase-specific characteristics. Key pain points include difficulty with appetite suppression, complex dietary management rules, and insufficient family and social support. It is recommended to develop a phase-specific dietary guidance system and strengthen psychological support and family involvement to meet the health needs of early dietary management in patients after metabolic bariatric surgery. </p>