Obesity, Bariatric Surgery and You

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is a group of surgeries that are meant to achieve weight loss. These surgeries can further broken down by how they cause weight loss: “restrictive,” “malabsorptive,” and both “restrictive” and “malabsorptive.” The two most common types of bariatric surgeries preformed in the US are the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and Laproscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB). The benefits of Bariatric surgery include major weight loss, reduction or resolution of obesity related disease, and decreased mortality related to obesity. Risks to bariatric surgery include a small risk of death, re-operation, infection, weight regain, and specific risks depending on the type of procedure or surgical method. Indications for bariatric surgery include a BMI > 40, or BMI > 35 with other co-morbidities, failed several previous attempts at non-surgical weight loss. Contraindications to bariatric surgery include: mental health issues, binge eating disorders, current substance abuse, and an inability to make life like habit changes. Treatment of individuals less than 18 or greater than 65 is controversial.