Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling an upper section of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch.
The surgeon connects the pouch to the lower intestine, bypassing the small intestine where calories and nutrients are absorbed. Fluids from the stomach, liver and pancreas pass through this arm of the “Y” and rejoin with the food to allow digestion to occur.
Gastric bypass reduces the size of the stomach, reroutes food through the intestine and reduces the production of the appetite hormone, ghrelin. This procedure contributes to weight loss in three ways:
- Fewer calories are eaten because the smaller stomach feels fuller faster, and it can only hold small portions of food at a time.
- Fewer calories are absorbed because food bypasses a portion of the intestine.
- Surgical changes reduce appetite, making it easier to eat less.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass
- It usually produces rapid and substantial weight loss for most patients and reduces or resolves many associated health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. A 2018 study in Cardiovascular Research found that more than 80% of patients could stop or reduce their blood pressure medication after the one-year benchmark.
- Although individual results vary, patients may lose 60 to 80% of their excess weight, and studies show patients maintain a greater than 50% loss at the five-year benchmark.
Disadvantages of Gastric Bypass
- Patients may develop a condition called Dumping Syndrome. This occurs when foods—especially those high in fat and sugar—move too quickly from the new stomach pouch to the small intestine.
- Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can occur since part of the intestine is bypassed where nutrients are usually absorbed. Individuals must take vitamin and mineral supplements for the remainder of their lives.
- There is a risk of leakage at staple lines.
It’s important to note that gastric bypass is a permanent procedure, except in rare circumstances.