Overweight?  Obese?  Tried dieting and exercise with no good result?  One of the more radical options to discuss with your local doctor is weight loss surgery. Sound invasive?  Yes and no.
 
The first surgical procedure for weight loss was performed by a surgeon named A Kremen in 1954.  Called an “intestinal bypass”, this rather crude procedure linked the upper and lower segments of small bowel.  The effect was to bypass the section of gut where most food absorption takes place.  Although this was effective, serious complications including dehydration, diarrhea, and salt imbalance were not uncommon.

Surgical procedures for weight loss, like bariatric surgery, have come a long way since then.  Minimally invasive surgery is now an option for some people.  A popular option is gastric banding using new adjustable bands.  Gastric bands simply reduce the functional size of the stomach – sometimes by as much as 90%.  A typical stomach size after gastric banding is approximately 3-4 tablespoons in size.  This reduces the quantity of food which can be consumed in a single sitting, and speeds up satiety.  Gastric bands do alter food absorption.  One advantage of gastric banding is that unlike Dr Kremen’s techniques of the 1950’s, there is no need to cut, staple, or reconnect bowel or stomach tissue.  Recovery time is significantly shorter, and complications are far less likely.  Patients tend to notice the greatest change in their weight in the first 12 - 18 months after gastric banding surgery.  After this weight is more likely to plateau - in my view, this should not be considered to be a major problem.  A good clinic will ensure you are referred off for lifestyle therapy to help you learn new healthier eating habits and behaviors.  These techniques can be used for life.

Whilst I wouldn’t be rushing off to my nearest surgeon because I’ve gained a few extra pounds from Christmas festivities, obese people who have made a genuine effort with less invasive treatment should investigate their options.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 4:46 am and is filed under Weight Management. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.