Understanding Gastric Bariatric Bypass Surgery - Is it for You

At no other time in the history of America has the problem of being overweight or obese reached such unparalled levels. Even though 1 in 3 Americans are dieting at any one time, only 1 in 20 will achieve their desired weight. Furthermore, 59% get no vigorous physical activity during their leisure time.

Between 1960 through 2004, the prevalency of being overweight or obese in adults has significantly increased. During that time, the prevalence of being overweight increased from 44.8% to 66% while the prevalency of obesity increased from 13.3% to 32.1%. Most of this rise has occured since 1980. Consequently, today approximately 66% of adults are overweight or obese. Surprisingly, more men struggle with weight problems than women. While 61.6% of women are overweight or obese, 70.5% of men are overweight or obese.Furthermore, approximately 17.5% of children and 17% of teenagers were overweight in 2001 through 2004.

Considering these statistics, some of us need more help to achieve our weight loss goals. For some, no matter what they do to try to lose weight, the pounds stubbornly cling to them. Bariatric bypass surgery was designed for these people.

To understand how the gastric bypass works, it is important to understand the digestive system. When you eat, the digestive system processes the food so it is available as energy and nutrients that your body needs. The digestive system is comprised of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

When you eat, chewing and saliva in the mouth break down food and starches into smaller molecules. Through a wave-like, rythmic movement called peristalis, food moves from the esophagus to the stomach. Whens food enters the stomach, it churns and mixes with stomach acids to break down the food further. This mixture is called chyme. After the chyme is processed, it moves through the duodenum, jejunum, and illeum of the small intestine. In the small intestine, bile from the liver, pancreatic enzymes, and other enzymes produced by the inner wall of the small intestine work together to break down food. The pancreatic enzymes break down carbohydrates, fat, and protiens while bile dissolves fats.The fat is dissolved first, and then, it is broken down further by the pancreatic enzymes. While the duodenum absorbs most of the calcium, the jejunum and illeun complete nutrient and calorie absorption. Consequenly, most of the food molecules, nutrients, and water is absorbed before moving on to the large intestine. In the large intestine, more of the water and electrolytes are removed. Microbes in the large intestine break down the food further and it is eventually eliminated through the anus.

Unlike dieting, the gastric bypass surgery or Roux-en-Y has a 75% success rate. Eighteen months after the surgery, patients can lose up to 80% of their body weight.

The word bariatric is derived from two greek words: weight and treatment. There are two types of bariatric bypass surgery: the lap band and the gastric bypass procedure. In addition to helping people lose weight, the gastric bypass also cuts the risk of developing cancer by 50% and approximately 80% of patients with diabetes 2 go into remission.

Performed under general anesthesia, the procedure usually takes 4 hours. In this procedure, the surgeon creates a small pouch about the size of a walnut out of your stomach by sealing the top of the stomach with staples. In addition to making the stomach smaller, the surgeon eliminates part of the small intestine and reconnects it at the jejenum. Consequently, it helps weight loss in two ways. First, since the stomach is smaller not as much food can be consumed. Secondly, since food passes directly from the pouch to the jejunum, it bypasses the lower part of the stomach, the duodenum and the first part of the jejunum, and most of the calories and nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine.

In comparison to the gastric bypass which can be either open or laprascopic, the lap band uses a laprascope. Whereas the gastric bypass makes the stomach smaller by stapling, the lap band uses adjustable band made out of silicone, and places it around the upper part of the stomach. By using a port, the size of the band is adjusted with a saline solution. Thus, the opening to the stomach can be readjusted as needed later on. Furthermore, unlike the gastric bypass, the operation is reversible, and no alterations are made to the small intestine.

To qualify for a bariatric bypass surgery, a patient usually must meet the following qualifications:

• Morbidly obese - 80 pounds above your ideal weight if you're a woman and 100 pound above your ideal weight if you're a man.
• A BMI between 40 and 50. If your BMI is above 50, you may be asked to lose up to 8% of your weigt first.
• A BMI of 35+ with serious obesity-related health problem. Examples of obesity-related health problems are sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
• Certain psychological disorders may disqualify you. Examples of these would be schizophrenia, bi-polar, and depression. These disorders may be exaggerated with weight loss.

Although a gastric bypass may seem like a quick-fix, it's not true. Unfortunatly, you still have to diet. However, when you overeat with a gastric bypass, you will either experience pain, nauseau, vomiting, or all three. Furthermore, since you eat far less food, you will have to work harder to eat a nutritious diet. Therefore, even though a bariatric bypass surgery can assist you in losing weight, it's not a magic bullet. The bottom line is you still have to diet, and you have to work even harder to eat a healthy diet because of the malabsorption of food. In addition to the malabsorption of food, there are complications too. Gone are the days of fast foods, junk food snacks, and sinful desserts. Considering this, a gastric bypass should not be untaken lightly. However, you will have psychological counseling beforehand to determine if it is right for you.