Gastric bypass and other types of weight-loss surgery — also called bariatric or metabolic surgery — involve making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight.
Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise haven’t worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight. Some weight-loss procedures limit how much you can eat. Others work by reducing the body’s ability to absorb fat and calories. Some procedures do both.
While bariatric surgery can offer many benefits, all forms of weight-loss surgery are major procedures that can pose risks and side effects. Also, you must make permanent healthy changes to your diet and get regular exercise to help ensure the long-term success of bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgery is done to help you lose extra weight and reduce your risk of possibly life-threatening weight-related health problems, including:
Certain cancers, including breast, endometrial and prostate cancer.
Heart disease and stroke.
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol levels.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes.
Bariatric surgery is often done only after you’ve tried to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.
CONDITIONS
In general, bariatric surgery could be an option for you if:
Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher, called extreme obesity.
Your BMI is 35 to 39.9, called obesity, and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea. In some cases, you may qualify for certain types of weight-loss surgery if your BMI is 30 to 34 and you have serious weight-related health problems.
Bariatric surgery isn’t for everyone who is severely overweight. You may need to meet certain medical guidelines to qualify for weight-loss surgery. You likely will have an extensive screening process to see if you qualify. You also must be willing to make permanent changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.
You may be required to participate in long-term follow-up plans that include keeping track of your nutrition, your lifestyle and behavior, and your medical conditions.
And keep in mind that bariatric surgery is expensive. Check with your health insurance plan to find out if your policy covers such surgery.
