Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a term derived from the Greek words: weight and treatment. In simple terms, bariatric concerns the causes, prevention and treatment of severe overweight, a condition known as obesity. Bariatric operations are major gastrointestinal procedures which alter the capacity and/or the anatomy of the digestive system. Some bariatric procedures are performed using general anaesthesia via a midline abdominal incision. Some bariatric surgeons also use laparoscopic surgical techniques, involving smaller instruments connected to cameras through which they view the operational site. The two types of bariatric surgeries are (1) restrictive - like Lap Band®, and (2) combined restrictive and malabsorptive - such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The first type of surgical procedure simply reduces the size of the stomach, using staples and/or a band, resulting in a drastic reduction in the quantity of food it can ingest. The second reduces stomach capacity and bypasses the upper part of the small intestine, causing a reduction in the number of calories and nutrients which the body absorbs. Stomach bypass operations differ in both how the stomach is and how much of the duodenum and jejunum are bypassed. Currently, most obesity clinics and bariatric centres favour the Lap Band adjustable gastric banding procedure and the Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is a type of procedure performed on people who are dangerously obese, for the purpose of losing weight. This weight loss is usually achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device (gastric banding) or through removal of a portion of the stomach or by resecting and re-routing the small intestines to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery). Long-term studies show the procedures cause significant long-term loss of weight, recovery from diabetes, improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, and a reduction in mortality of 23% to 40%. Severe obesity is a chronic condition that is difficult to treat through diet and exercise alone. Bariatric surgery is an option for people who are severely obese and cannot lose weight by traditional means or who suffer from serious obesity-related health problems. The operation promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by restricting food intake and, in some operations, interrupting the digestive process to prevent the absorption of some calories and nutrients. Recent studies suggest that bariatric surgery may even have a favourable impact on mortality (death) rates in severely obese patients. The best results are achieved when bariatric surgery is followed with healthy eating behaviours and regular physical activity.