Batriatic Surgery
The news Today September 5, 2008
Obesity is a huge problem nowadays. More than 33% Americans have weight problems. That is why weight loss surgeries became extremely popular over the last years. The procedure carried most often is gastric bypass surgery. The other popular solution is gastric banding. Some surgeons even say that it is safer, more effective and has fewer side effects than gastric bypass.
Batriatic surgery, simply speaking, is an operation on the stomach letting obese patients to lose and maintain normal weight, using healthy diet in the same time.
During the operation the stomach volume is reduced by 95%. It means only 5% of the food can be absorbed. Also a small part of the upper intestinal track is being bypassed. Thanks to that the patient does not need to eat that much as he/she feels full after having just a small amount of food. The procedure reduces the appetite and the amount of calories taken.
Gastric bypass is a very effective operation allowing patients to lose 65% to 75% of weight. Obviously a strict diet needs to be followed after the surgery as eating more will negate the effects.
The other very popular weight-loss surgery is gastric banding. This procedure consists of placing a silicone band inflated with saline on the top of the stomach. As in gastric bypass, this also restricts the amount of food that gets to the stomach. Gastric banding is a reversible surgery as the band can be removed if needed. Comparing to the gastric bypass, however, this option needs longer time to see the effects as the bypass component is not included. The weight patients after gastric bypass surgery lose in a year can only be lost in four-five years after gastric banding operation. On the other hand, however, it is said to be safer and more physiological way of weight-loss.
Another option to lose weight is Biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch. Compared with the above it is the least popular method of weight-loss. The reason is that it has the highest mortality (2.5% to 5%). The results. however, can reach 60% to 80% of weight-loss within one year only.
A very important thing to remember is that weight-loss surgery can result in side effects. The most common are: abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, even nausea and vomiting. This may cause malnutrition and deficiency of vitamins. This again may cause osteoporosis and Wernicke’s Encephalopathy (thiamine deficiency). Other side effects may also be muscle weakness, abnormal eye movement, mental confusion or movement incoordination.
In many cases obesity can be worked against by using the right diet full of fruit, vegetable and protein, as well as being active.
