How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work

Surgery to Save a Life

Morbid obesity is a relatively new phenomenon as it pertains to the American way of life. Due, perhaps, to the amount of overprocessed, sugary foods that are available to us in mass quantities for not a lot of money (and ready to be eaten with minimal preparation), America's average weight has soared in the last 100 years. And with that soaring average has come a host of health issues. Exercise and dieting are always options, but what happens when these options fail?

Now, gastric bypass surgery can be performed on those people whose way of life is threatened by their size. The surgery essentially creates a smaller stomach. This is done by surgically stapling one small pocket of the upper stomach so that the food is retained there, and has no chance to be delivered into the larger stomach as a whole. The GI tract is then fitted to drain the upper stomach pouch, effectively eliminating the rest of the stomach as a functioning organ.

Who Is a Candidate For the Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is not for people who just have a little spare tire to lose, or would like to fit into a smaller size dress this summer. There are strict guidelines by which surgeons decide whether a patient is a candidate for this complicated, sometimes risky surgery. These guidelines are based around the Body Mass Index, or the BMI. Typically, a person must possess a BMI of 40 or higher to be a candidate for surgery. Alternatively, they may possess a BMI of 35, if it is accompanied by one or more severe obesity-related conditions (such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea or liver disease).

The Aftermath

Gastric bypass surgery works to reduce weight in patients because they feel full after consuming just a tiny portion of food (immediately following surgery, this amount is typically about the equivalent of a handful of grapes). However, while the surgery has a tremendous success rate in lowering excess body mass, it is not a magic cure-all, and the patient must decide to make changes in her lifestyle. This includes an exercise program, and choosing to eat a more healthy diet. Though rare, there have been incidences of patients "eating their way out of" the stomach stapling, which can essentially negate the effect of the surgery, as well as further endanger the person's health.

Tags: bypass surgery, Gastric bypass, upper stomach