A number of bariatric surgeries are available to obese individuals. According to the Weight-control Information Network (WIN), bariatric surgeries aim to promote weight loss and improve physical health by restricting caloric intake and preventing some calories and nutrients from being absorbed. The decision to pursue bariatric surgery is a major one and is best done in affiliation with your doctor.
Adjustable Gastric Band
The adjustable gastric band procedure works by decreasing caloric intake. A small band is placed around the top of the stomach to create a small pouch. As a result, the body can only tolerate small amounts of food that can fit within the thumb-size pouch. The band can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing amounts of saline in the pouch to suit the desired size needs of the patient. According to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the adjustable gastric band produces gradual weight loss results, at a rate of approximately 1 to 2 pounds per week for a period of 1 to 3 years.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass surgery restricts food intake and decreases food absorption. According to the Mayo Clinic, gastric bypass surgery is the most common weight loss surgery performed in the United States and poses fewer risks than other weight loss procedures. Like the adjustable band procedure, food can only be consumed that fits within a small pouch created at the top of the stomach. The procedure also routes food intake directly from the pouch to the small intestine, excluding most of the stomach and upper intestine which normally would come into contact with the food. Because of this, lesser amounts of food and nutrients are absorbed.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a procedure performed on people who are at high risk for surgical complications due to excessive body weight or other medical conditions. According to WIN, these patients often have the procedure as a preliminary treatment until they are more suited to a second surgical option. WIN also suggests however that some individuals who have the surgery lose substantial amounts of weight and opt out of their second planned procedure. Vertical sleeve gastrectomies work by restricting food intake. Though it doesn't decrease food absorption, much of the stomach is removed during the surgery, which may reduce production of hormones that stimulate appetite, potentially more so even than that gastric band.
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