Bariatric surgery helps extremely overweight (severely obese)
people lose weight and is used only after diet and exercise did not result in
long-term weight loss. The surgery makes the stomach smaller, so it fills up
with less food.
The most commonly done types of bariatric surgery include:
- Laparoscopic gastric banding. This makes the stomach smaller
but does not change the connection between the stomach and the intestines. The
surgery is done through several small incisions in the belly. A band placed
around the upper part of the stomach creates a small pouch that fills quickly
to make the person feel full.
- Roux-en-Y (say "roo-en-why") gastric
bypass. This makes the stomach smaller. It also changes the connection between
the stomach and the intestines. A section of the stomach is separated from the
rest of the stomach to make a small pouch to hold the food a person eats. The
doctor connects the stomach pouch to the middle portion of the small intestine.
Because some of the intestine is bypassed, less food is absorbed.
After surgery, the person will not be able to eat very much at one
time and will get full quickly. Stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea may occur
if the person eats too much at one time or if the person eats foods that are
high in fat or sugar.
