Controlling one's weight can be a difficult task for anyone, whether you're 10 pounds or 100 pounds overweight. But for those considered morbidly obese, the need to lose weight is a matter of life and death. Stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease are some potentially fatal conditions that can be caused by morbid obesity.
Types
Morbid obesity occurs in men if they are at least 100 pounds overweight, and occurs in women if they are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are morbidly obese and have tried to lose weight both through exercise and dietary changes, but without significant weight loss, bariatric surgery may be the option for you.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, there are four types of bariatric surgeries available in the United States. The adjustable gastric band is when a small band is wrapped around the top of the stomach. This creates a small pouch where food enters and limits the amount of food one can eat. The gastric band is adjusted by surgical injection of saline into the band itself, which controls the size of the pouch. In Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a small pouch is created at the top of the stomach. Food is routed away from the rest of the stomach and directly into the small intestine. This results in a decrease in food intake and food absorption. This procedure is the most common form of bariatric surgery and may be referred to as simply "gastric bypass."
Bilopancreatic Diversion with a Duodenal Switch is a highly complex surgery in which the size of the stomach is greatly reduced, food is redirected to the small intestine, and the digestive acids and juices are directed away from the stomach pouch (also known as a gastric sleeve). In a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, the majority of the stomach is removed and food is rerouted to the small intestine. This greatly reduces the amount of food one can consume, as well as lessening the amount of nutrition and calories that the body can absorb. VSG is typically performed on profoundly overweight patients, and in situations where the other bariatric procedures would be too risky for them.
Depending on a number of factors such as your weight, food and eating behaviors, physical activity and medical history, your doctor will determine which surgery may be right for you.
Risks
All surgeries pose some amount of risk. According to the MayoClinic.com, one in 200 to 300 people have died from complications from bariatric surgery. Additional complications include infection at the surgery site, blood clots, leakage of fluids at the site of stapling, muscle and/or tissue weakening at incision point, and dumping syndrome (a condition in which food travels too quickly from your stomach to the small intestine, resulting in diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and severe sweating).
Results
Despite the risks, bariatric treatments can be effective in initially reducing your weight. What makes the biggest difference, however, is your dedication to maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. This lifelong commitment can be particularly challenging. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctors, and seek support from friends, family and support groups (see Resources for more information).
