Gastric bypass
Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) is a surgical weight-loss intervention that combines two primary bariatric treatment mechanisms—restriction and malabsorption—to achieve weight loss.
Restriction helps reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, allowing the patient to feel full more easily and lowering the risk of overeating. Malabsorption limits the body’s ability to absorb calories from consumed food.
Gastric bypass surgery reconstructs your stomach and small intestine, offering a long-term, healthy solution for achieving and maintaining a stable weight. The procedure typically takes about 2 to 4 hours.
In general, gastric bypass surgery may be an option for you if:
Restriction helps reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, allowing the patient to feel full more easily and lowering the risk of overeating. Malabsorption limits the body’s ability to absorb calories from consumed food.
Gastric bypass surgery reconstructs your stomach and small intestine, offering a long-term, healthy solution for achieving and maintaining a stable weight. The procedure typically takes about 2 to 4 hours.
In general, gastric bypass surgery may be an option for you if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is between 40 and 50. Patients with a BMI over 40 are considered clinically obese and may be good candidates for gastric bypass if other weight-loss methods have failed.
Gastric bypass surgery is an effective procedure for addressing obesity, but it is not a cure. Patients must make significant lifestyle changes following surgery to continue progressing toward a healthier self. This includes following a nutritious diet and engaging in daily physical activity.
Benefits
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Gastric bypass surgery is performed as a treatment for obesity and its potentially serious health complications, including:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Certain types of cancer
- Infertility