What can be done for severe obesity?

Surgery as an option

Important

If non-surgical methods have not helped you lose weight and keep it off, you still have another option. Surgery to reduce how much your stomach holds may work for you. But keep in mind that a positive attitude is key to the success of the surgery. Surgery can help you achieve your long-term goal only if you are ready for and committed to losing weight and keeping it off.

Surgery options

There are two types of surgery for obesity. One is called malabsorptive. This surgery shortens the digestive tract. The other kind is called restrictive. This surgery reduces how much food the stomach can hold. Some surgeries are combinations of the two types. The two most common obesity surgeries in the United States are the Gastric Bypass and the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty.

The Gastric Bypass

The Gastric Bypass is both a restrictive and a malabsorptive procedure. With this surgery, most of the stomach and part of the intestines are bypassed. With the Gastric Bypass, the stomach is stapled to make a smaller pouch. Then a part of the intestines is attached (usually stapled) to the small stomach pouch. The result is that you cannot eat as much and you absorb less nutrients and calories from your food

• Rapid initial weight loss
• Minimally invasive approach is possible
• Longer experience in the U. S.
• Higher total average weight loss reported than with VBG

Cutting and stapling of stomach and bowel are required
• More operative complications than with LAP BAND
• Portion of digestive tract is bypassed, reducing absorption of essential nutrients
• Medical complications due to nutritional deficiencies
• "Dumping syndrome" can occur
• Nonadjustable
• Extremely difficult to reverse
• Higher mortality rate than LAP BAND or VBG procedures