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