The Mayo Clinic estimates that one in three adult Americans is obese. Complications associated with obesity are numerous and sometimes life threatening. Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery is a possible solution, but its invasive quality and associated risks make it controversial.

Gastric Bypass

A normal stomach holds three pints of food. A gastric bypass, the most common type of bariatric surgery performed in the United States, reduces the stomach to walnut size. Using staples, the surgeon shapes a small pouch at the top of the stomach, and then creates a passage that carries food from the pouch around much of the small intestine before it can be absorbed.

Adjustable Gastric Banding

For gastric banding, the surgeon places a small, saline-filled band around the top portion of the stomach, creating a tiny pouch about the size of a thumb. A narrow opening between the pouch and the stomach carries food very slowly into the rest of the stomach, significantly restricting the amount of food or liquid that can be consumed at any one time.

Immediate Risks

The possible risks of bariatric surgery include bleeding, infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia and death. The Mayo Clinic notes that gastric banding, a simpler procedure than gastric bypass, holds fewer risks but typically results in less and slower weight loss. Your physician will give you clear guidance regarding your specific risks versus benefits when contemplating bariatric surgery.

Possible Long-Term Complications

With gastric bypass (an irreversible procedure), vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bleeding ulcers, hernia, painful adhesions, blood clots and kidney stones are only a few of the possible negative consequences. The gastric banding procedure is reversible and the band is adjustable to accommodate specific needs. Both procedures require extensive consultation with health-care professionals before proceeding.

Other Considerations

Lapband.com reports that 55 percent of patients who had gastric banding and 58 percent of patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (the most common type) maintained successful weight loss at the three-year mark. The National Institutes for Health note that long-term success, however, requires motivation and commitment to a healthy lifestyle that includes appropriate diet and routine exercise.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Gastric Bypass

National Institutes for Health: Gastric Bypass

Lapband.com: Obesity and Weight Loss