Surgery To Reduce Obesity
Guide to Resources For Gastric Reduction Operations, Like Stomach Bypass, Roux-en-Y and Lap Band For Morbidly Obese

Obesity Surgery

Gastric reduction is becoming an ever more popular weight loss treatment for patients suffering from morbid obesity (body mass index > 40), although most obesity clinics and surgeons screen candidates for suitability. (Six million American adults suffer from morbid or super-obesity.) The two most popular bariatric procedures are Lap Band gastric banding, and roux-en-y gastric bypass. Nowadays, bariatric surgeons commonly use laparoscopic techniques (using a laparoscope to view the surgical area) to perform these gastrointestinal procedures. How does gastric bypass and banding help patients to lose weight? In essence, both operations forcibly reduce calorie intake in patients by reducing the size of their stomach. Gastric bypass goes one step further: it also re-directs food from the stomach to the lower part of the small intestine – bypassing the duodenum and most of the jejunum. This reduces nutritional intake, thus adding to the number of calories saved.

Health Benefits And Risks

Obesity surgery operations do not guarantee lasting weight loss, although most patients do benefit from massive loss of body fat in the two years after surgery. Much depends on whether patients manage to follow post-operative diet guidelines. Those who do, benefit from a much improved quality of life, greater life-span, as well as significant health benefits. Bariatric surgery alleviates most of the comorbidities and health dangers associated with morbid obesity, including: or arthritis, raised blood pressure, breathing problems, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, circulatory problems, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes,gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), heart disease, insulin resistance, lower limb ischemia, sleep apnea, to name but a few. The mortality rate for bariatric surgery is currently less than 1 percent, although like any serious medical operations performed using full anesthesia, it carries the usual health risks. Bariatric surgeons typically assess the weight loss success rate for gastric reduction operations at 40-70 percent. The average cost of weight loss surgery is about $20,000.

Obesity Surgery Resources

Gastrointestinal Surgery
Brief explanation of gastric reduction procedures

Lap Band Surgery For Obesity
Brief explanation of this method of stomach banding surgery.

Roux-en-Y-Gastric Bypass (RGB)
Advantages and disadvantages of this malabsorptive stomach bypass operation.

Adjustable Gastric Banding (AGB)
General advice about stomach banding

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
Benefits and risks of gastroplasty.

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD)
Risks and benefits of this type of stomach bypass operation.

Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS)
Duodenal switch procedures leave pyloric valve intact. Risks and benefits.

Weight Loss Help
Guide to healthy weight reduction.

Obesity Diet Guide
Diet plan to reduce body fat and lower body mass index.

Guide To Obesity
Causes, health dangers and treatment of excess body fat in children and adults. Weight management treatment options for morbid and super obesity.

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