Experts to Analyze Weight Loss Surgery Options

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US government study is examining the risks and benefits associated with three common obesity surgery options. The prevalence of obesity in the United States has grown tremendously over the past decade. There are currently an estimated 61 million people in the U.S. who are considered obese and would meet federal guidelines for obesity surgery need. Advances in obesity surgical techniques have led to major strides in alleviating the problem around the world.

However, without proper dietary and lifestyle adjustments following any form of bariatric surgery, no method is considered effective for an extended period of time.

Currently, the most common option for obesity surgery in the United States is gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery, which is also known as stomach stapling, is conducted by stapling a small pouch away from the rest of the stomach and attaching it to the small intestine. The procedure is designed to reduce a person’s food and caloric intake because of the smaller stomach size and the bypassing of intestines.

Gastric bypass surgery is considered by most doctors to be the fastest and most effective option, however bears greater risks than other less speedy options. Typically, doctors will recommend gastric bypass surgery when the patient exhibits additional obesity-related health problems, such as heart damage, that need immediate attention.

Another approach to surgical weight loss that has been popularized in Europe and Australia is the adjustable stomach band. This option, which is significantly less invasive and risky in comparison to the gastric bypass, is characterized by the placement of an inflated ring over the top of the stomach to reduce the amount of food intake to the stomach. The adjustable stomach band is considered to be a safer option for children and pregnant woman and is becoming more favorable in the U.S. as an effective and safe procedure.

Studies have been performed to analyze the results of gastric bypass surgery in comparison with the adjustable stomach band. The results of 43 combined case studies found that a gastric bypass produces more favorable weight loss within the first three years, however the two procedures have comparable long-term results after a seven-year time period. Dr. Paul O’Brien, director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education at Monash Univerity in Melbourne, Australia, is confident that the safer and superior option, regardless of the patient, is the adjustable stomach band.

The last option that can be used for patients who are in need of severe weight loss to survive is a biliopancreatic diversion. In this procedure, the surgeon will remove three-fourths of the stomach, leaving a small narrow organ that is connected to the small intestine in order to bypass the stomach and intestines even more so than a standard gastric bypass procedure. This procedure is considered to be the most dangerous of weight loss surgery options with a fatality rate of up to five percent.

Body contouring procedures, such as liposuction, can be extremely beneficial to those who have experienced drastic weight loss through bariatric surgery. Often, excess skin and stubborn pockets of fat can remain after weight loss surgery. These unwanted side effects can be remedied with the help of a qualified and experienced body contouring plastic surgeon.

Bariatric surgery is not a permanent solution to any obesity problem and must be supplemented with a well-balanced lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular exercise. The federal government does not recommend obesity surgery for individuals who are less than 100 pounds over weight or have a BMI (body mass index) of less than 40. Currently in the United States, over 170,000 people receive bariatric surgery annually.


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