Mar 10, 2010 | 4:13 am
Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss is defined as a decrease in body weight. Extremely obese people often have difficulty losing weight and keeping the weight off for any extended period of time.
In some instances, they may already have health problems as an effect of their weight problem. Weight loss surgery is often considered an option to help them lose weight and gain back their health.
Weight loss surgery is commonly known as bariatric surgery and involves surgical procedures done on the stomach and/or intestines to help a person with morbid obesity lose weight. This is usually considered an option for persons who have a BMI above 40. It is also an option for people with a BMI of 35 to 40 who are experiencing health problems such as Type II diabetes, heart disease, or sever sleep apnea.
Over the years, weight-loss surgery has proven to be a successful method for the treatment of morbid obesity. Surgical options have continued to evolve and Tri-State Bariatrics is pleased to be able to offer patients the LAP-BAND® Surgery and the Laparoscopic Gastric By-Pass Surgery.
How does surgery reduce weight?
The Laparoscopic Gastric By-Pass Surgery is also known as Roux-en-Y procedure. Weight loss with the Gastric Bypass occurs as a result of restriction and malabsorption. The stomach is surgically separated creating a small stomach pouch, which limits the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The first part of the small intestine is surgically bypassed causing a reduction in absorption of food. The combined affect of restriction and malabsorption aids in weight loss.
The LAP-BAND® system also known as an adjustable gastric banding procedure restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold by placing an inflatable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The new, small upper stomach pouch limits the amount of food that can be consumed at one time, and a narrowed stomach outlet increases the time it takes for the stomach to empty. The subsequent reduction in food intake results in weight loss.
The LAP-BAND® procedure is the least traumatic and the only adjustable and reversible obesity surgery available in the United States. The LAP-BAND® System provides a unique tool that can help you achieve and maintain significant weight loss, improve your health, and enhance your quality of life.
- SAGES/ASBS Guidelines for Laparoscopic and Conventional Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity. American Society for Bariatric Surgery.
http://asbs.org - American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) / American College of Endocrinology (ACE) Statement on the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Obesity (1998 Revision). AACE/ACE Obesity Task Force. Endocr Pract. 1998; Vol. 4 No. 5: 297-330.
- Kramer FM et al. Long-term follow-up of behavioral treatment for obesity: patterns of weight regain among men and women. Int J Obes 1989; 13:123-136.
- American Diabetes Association