For most of the overweight and obese American population, dieting and exercise are the safest and most effective means of weight loss. However, for those who are extremely obese, with a body mass index of 40 or more, or have obesity related health conditions, weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery may be the best option.
Gastric bypass surgery is the most common surgical procedure for weight loss. The stomach size is reduced and the digestive tract is rerouted to exclude part of the small intestine. This means you are forced to eat less and your body absorbs fewer calories, resulting in rapid weight loss.
A Two-Step Procedure
The first step of this surgical procedure is to create a smaller stomach. Your surgeon will divide your stomach into two parts. The smaller part is stapled or sewn to make a small pouch for your food. Typically, your "new stomach" will hold about one cup of food. This small area will fill up quickly, forcing you to eat less.
The second step involves rerouting your digestive system. Your stomach will be disconnected from the first part of your small intestine, the duodenum, and reconnected further down at the jejunum. Since the small intestine is responsible for most of your calorie absorption, this shortcut reduces the amount of calories that your body absorbs. Taking in fewer calories will always result in weight loss!
With this procedure, you are basically forcing your body to diet. Your stomach will fill much quicker, resulting in smaller meals and snacks, and your body will absorb only a portion of the calories that are present in the foods you eat.
Possible Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and complications involved in the process. Minor complications (10% of individuals) include wound infections, digestive problems, ulcers, and bleeding. In very rare cases (1%-5% of individuals) patients experience major complications like pulmonary embolism from a blood clot, heart attack, a leak in the surgical connections, or serious infection.
The chance of infections is greatly reduced when the procedure is done laparoscopically, using sterile surgical tools inserted through a small incision in the belly. Your doctor will discuss the different options available and which is best for you.
Complications are also reduced when the patient chooses a medical center where more than 100 weight loss surgeries are performed per year by highly experienced surgeons.
Adjusting to Your New Stomach
It will take some time to adjust to your new stomach size. Since the stomach is so much smaller, gastric bypass surgery patients may experience a bout of vomiting after eating too much food too quickly!
In addition to absorbing calories, your small intestine absorbs much of the vitamins and minerals that are found in the foods you eat. Your doctor will discuss supplements and foods that should become a part of your daily diet to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
In the short term, gastric bypass surgery results in rapid weight loss! In the long term, the excess weight is typically kept off for 10 years or more. Great news for those looking to shrink their obese bodies and live a healthier lifestyle!
If you're considering gastric bypass surgery, New Hartford, NY: http://www.drgrabermd.com/obesity-overview/surgery-bypass/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Aaronson
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