Nearly 200,000 people in the United States have bariatric surgery for weight loss each year. Bariatric surgery patients come from all different walks of life. But they have one thing in common. They are suffering from the health consequences of obesity.
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, you may benefit from weight loss surgery if you:
- have a BMI over 40 or are at least 100 pounds overweight
- have a BMI over 35 and are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, or osteoarthritis.
Bariatric surgery is performed on people who suffer from obesity and the many health problems that it comes with. Weight loss surgery can reverse and prevent weight related health problems including high blood pressure, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. If you are diabetic, bariatric surgery can reduce or eliminate the need for insulin. Patients who are successful can lose 50% or more of their excess weight if they follow a healthy eating plan and include exercise.
There are several surgical options to choose from if you are considering bariatric surgery. The most common weight loss surgeries include gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass reduces the amount of food you can eat by limiting the stomach size. The stomach is separated into an upper pouch and a lower, larger pouch. Then the small intestines are rearranged to connect them. Patients are left with a smaller stomach which makes them feel full quicker. Gastric bypass patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight. Possible side effects are malabsorption and dumping syndrome where food moves through the digestive tract too quickly. These effects are minimized by healthy eating and reducing or eliminating sugar in your diet.
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve is the fastest-growing weight loss surgery in the United States. The large curvature of the stomach is removed, reducing the stomach to 15% of its original size. The reduced stomach size leaves patients feeling full faster and with a lower food intake volume. Patients lose 60% of their excess body weight. Dumping syndrome and malabsorption can occur with the gastric sleeve but are less common than with gastric bypass.
Sleeve Gastrectomy With Duodenal Switch
The sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch involves two surgical procedures. First patients undergo a gastric sleeve surgery and later come back in for the duodenal switch. The duodenal switch reroutes food so that much of it bypasses the small intestines, reducing the amount of calories and fat that is absorbed. This surgery allows patients to lose 80-85% of their excess weight. It is most appropriate for patients who need to lose weight in a short period of time to resolve other weight-related health problems. Malabsorption and dumping syndrome can occur with this combination surgery but the risk can be reduced with proper nutrition.
Contact the Center for Metabolic and Obesity Surgery today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in Maitland, FL.
