Gastric Bypass Surgery: What You Need to Know
Obesity has become a major issue worldwide. A recent WHO survey has noted an over-all trend of an increasing obesity population. A distressing projection by WHO reveals that at least a third of the adult population is overweight, and one in ten is obese. Even children are not spared; around 20 million children below five years of age are overweight. As more people gain weight, the socio-economic and medical repercussions are felt more keenly now. The combination of increased chronic food intake, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics has led to the rising tide of obesity.
Obesity defined
Obesity is defined as a state of excess accumulation of body fat, to a point of endangering health. Sometimes, obesity can be a part of a disease syndrome like endocrine disorders (Cushing's, hypothyroidism, insulinoma) and other problems involving the hypothalamus. Many studies have shown that obesity can increase the individual' s risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary problems, gallstones, and even cancer.
Obesity treatment options
A crude measurement of excess fat is the body mass index (BMI). It is an individual' s weight (kilograms) divided by the square of the person' s height (meters). The WHO has standardized a criteria for classifying overweight and obese individuals. A person is considered overweight when his or her BMI is 25 to 29.9. A person is called obese when his or her BMI is 30 or more. A BMI of above 40 is considered morbidly obese.
The usual treatment options for obese patients are the combination of diet (the key factor of obesity treatment), exercise, and lifestyle modifications. Some patients are successful in losing substantial weight, but some weight-loss is often short term. Most patients are unable to maintain the weight loss over a considerable period of time. Because of this, some physicians prescribe anti-obesity medications. Unfortunately, cessation of these drugs oftentimes induces rebound weight gain.
Due to poor response to ineffective treatments like diet, exercise, and anti-obesity drugs, surgery is increasingly employed. Usually surgical option is recommended for extreme cases (morbidly obese individuals), as the surgery itself can be risky. One concern is the psychological impact because patients require lifetime monitoring for proper nutrition and other potential complications.
Types of Gastric Bypass Surgery
The National Institute of Health has endorsed two surgical procedures as acceptable procedures for surgical treatment of obesity. Both are commonly employed today in the United States: vertical-banded gastroplasty (VBG) and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. VBG is a type of gastric restriction surgery. The stomach stapling procedure form a very small stomach pouch which limit food intake. Because of this, fewer calories are ingested, and the patient loses weight. Gastric bypass surgery combines restriction with slight malabsorption because it also forms a small stomach pouch and bypasses a large segment of the small intestine. Gastric bypass is often done by laparotomy but can also be performed laparascopically. The gastric bypass surgery has also become the operation of choice in the United States. Moreover, around 90% of all weight loss surgeries in the United States are gastric bypasses.
A recent third procedure is laparascopic adjustable gastric banding or gastric lap band or "Lap-Band System". The procedure involves placing an adjustable silicon belt around the top of the stomach causing restriction. The small stomach restricts food intake, causing a "feeling of fullness".
When considering a gastric bypass surgery, always consult a highly qualified surgeon. Make sure that you also confirm the number of gastric bypasses your surgeon has done. This will reduce your risk of post-operative complications and will also ensure you lose as much weight as you can.
