| Gastric bypass (also called bariatric surgery) closes | | | | intake. People who have bypass operations generally |
| off a large portion of the stomach, leaving only a | | | | lose two-thirds of their excess weight within 2 years. |
| pouch the size of an egg. Gastric bypass works by | | | | There are risks associated with gastric bypass |
| restricting food intake. Patients feel full after eating | | | | surgery. People who undergo this procedure are at |
| small amounts of food. Fewer calories are eaten and | | | | risk for: pouch stretching (stomach gets bigger |
| weight is lost. Gastric bypass patients typically lose | | | | overtime, stretching back to its normal size before |
| 70% of their excess weight, most of it in the first | | | | surgery), band erosion (the band closing off part of |
| year after surgery. | | | | the stomach disintegrates), breakdown of staple lines |
| Gastric bypass surgery combines the creation of a | | | | (band and staples fall apart, reversing procedure), |
| small stomach pouch to restrict food intake and | | | | leakage of stomach contents into the abdomen (this |
| construction of bypasses of the duodenum and other | | | | is dangerous because the acid can eat away other |
| segments of the small intestine to cause | | | | organs), nutritional deficiencies causing health |
| malabsorption (decreased ability to absorb nutrients | | | | problems. |
| from food). | | | | Gastric bypass operations also may cause "dumping |
| There are two types of gastric bypass surgery: | | | | syndrome," whereby stomach contents move too |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) and extensive | | | | rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms include |
| gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion). | | | | nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common | | | | occasionally, diarrhea after eating, as well as the |
| gastric bypass procedure performed in the U.S. First, | | | | inability to eat sweets without becoming extremely |
| a small stomach pouch is created by stapling part of | | | | weak. Gallstones can occur in response to rapid |
| the stomach together or by vertical banding. This | | | | weight loss. They can be dissolved with medication |
| limits how much food you can eat. Next, a Y-shaped | | | | taken after the surgery. |
| section of the small intestine is attached to the | | | | The limited absorption of vitamin B12 and iron can |
| pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well | | | | cause anemia. The lack of calcium absorption can |
| as the first portion of the jejunum. This causes | | | | cause osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. |
| reduced calorie and nutrient absorption. This | | | | People who undergo this procedure are required to |
| procedure can now be done with a laparoscope (a | | | | take nutritional supplements that usually prevent |
| thin telescope-like instrument for viewing inside the | | | | these deficiencies. The more extensive the bypass |
| abdomen) in some people. This involves using small | | | | operation, the greater is the risk for complications |
| incisions and generally has a more rapid recovery | | | | and nutritional deficiencies. People who undergo |
| time. | | | | extensive bypasses of the normal digestive process |
| In extensive gastric bypass ? a more complicated | | | | require not only close monitoring, but also lifelong use |
| gastric bypass operation - the lower portion of the | | | | of special foods and medications. |
| stomach is removed. The small pouch that remains is | | | | Low carbs, the bottom line: you may lose weight |
| connected directly to the final segment of the small | | | | quicker on a low-carbohydrate diet than on a diet to |
| intestine, thus completely bypassing both the | | | | cut calories. However, don't expect to lose as much |
| duodenum and jejunum. Although this procedure | | | | weight as diet books say you will and remember that |
| successfully promotes weight loss, it is not as widely | | | | the risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and |
| used because of the high risk for nutritional | | | | osteoporosis for people on low-carb diets have not |
| deficiencies. | | | | been tested. There's plenty of research that shows |
| Gastric bypass operations that cause malabsorption | | | | the way to go is moderation in eating a diet rich in |
| and restrict food intake produce more weight loss | | | | fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, |
| than restriction operations, which only decrease food | | | | and low-fat dairy products. |