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Author:
Scott Michaels

Gastric bypass (also called bariatric surgery) closes off a large portion of the stomach, leaving only a pouch the size of an egg. Gastric bypass works by restricting food intake. Patients feel full after eating small amounts of food. Fewer calories are eaten and weight is lost. Gastric bypass patients typically lose 70% of their excess weight, most of it in the first year after surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery combines the creation of a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake and construction of bypasses of the duodenum and other segments of the small intestine to cause malabsorption (decreased ability to absorb nutrients from food).

There are two types of gastric bypass surgery: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) and extensive gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion).

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common gastric bypass procedure performed in the U.S. First, a small stomach pouch is created by stapling part of the stomach together or by vertical banding. This limits how much food you can eat. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as the first portion of the jejunum. This causes reduced calorie and nutrient absorption. This procedure can now be done with a laparoscope (a thin telescope-like instrument for viewing inside the abdomen) in some people. This involves using small incisions and generally has a more rapid recovery time.

In extensive gastric bypass – a more complicated gastric bypass operation - the lower portion of the stomach is removed. The small pouch that remains is connected directly to the final segment of the small intestine, thus completely bypassing both the duodenum and jejunum. Although this procedure successfully promotes weight loss, it is not as widely used because of the high risk for nutritional deficiencies.

Gastric bypass operations that cause malabsorption and restrict food intake produce more weight loss than restriction operations, which only decrease food intake. People who have bypass operations generally lose two-thirds of their excess weight within 2 years.

There are risks associated with gastric bypass surgery. People who undergo this procedure are at risk for: pouch stretching (stomach gets bigger overtime, stretching back to its normal size before surgery), band erosion (the band closing off part of the stomach disintegrates), breakdown of staple lines (band and staples fall apart, reversing procedure), leakage of stomach contents into the abdomen (this is dangerous because the acid can eat away other organs), nutritional deficiencies causing health problems.

Gastric bypass operations also may cause "dumping syndrome," whereby stomach contents move too rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, occasionally, diarrhea after eating, as well as the inability to eat sweets without becoming extremely weak. Gallstones can occur in response to rapid weight loss. They can be dissolved with medication taken after the surgery.

The limited absorption of vitamin B12 and iron can cause anemia. The lack of calcium absorption can cause osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. People who undergo this procedure are required to take nutritional supplements that usually prevent these deficiencies. The more extensive the bypass operation, the greater is the risk for complications and nutritional deficiencies. People who undergo extensive bypasses of the normal digestive process require not only close monitoring, but also lifelong use of special foods and medications.

Low carbs, the bottom line: you may lose weight quicker on a low-carbohydrate diet than on a diet to cut calories. However, don't expect to lose as much weight as diet books say you will and remember that the risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis for people on low-carb diets have not been tested. There's plenty of research that shows the way to go is moderation in eating a diet rich in fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, and low-fat dairy products.

About The Author:
What is gastric bypass surgery? What types of gastric bypass operations are there? Are there risks associated with gastric bypass surgery? What health problems can nutritional deficiencies cause? http://www.gastricbypass1.info

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Gastric Bypass... After WLS Patients Must Give-up Coffee, Tea, Soda and Alcohol to Sustain Weight Loss Dieters are often told – drink water. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces a day – eight glasses a day. Gastric-bypass patients don’t have a choice: they must drink lots water. Other beverages including coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks and alcohol are forbidden. Water is the essential fluid for living. Water is one of the most important nutrients the body needs to stay healthy, vibrant and energetic. A tell-tell sign of a gastric bypass patient is the ever-present water bottle. The restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass causes several things to go wrong if a patient partakes of caffeine coffee or tea, high-caloric or alcoholic beverages. The caffeine assimilates into the blood stream very quickly causing jitters and nervousness more-so than a normal digestive system. The high-caloric beverages are easily absorbed through the shortened intestine causing a weight plateau or weight gain. And alcohol is absorbed with break-neck speed causing intoxication, vomiting or dumping. ...