Weight Loss Surgery: Is It right for You?

What Is Available?
Weight loss surgery is also called bariatric surgery. The treatment is an important health option for some people who are 100 pounds or more than their ideal body weight. If you suffer from a weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease,high blood pressure or sleep apnea, you may be a candidate.

There are several types of procedures. One method places an adjustable band around the top portion of the stomach to restrict food intake. The most common technique, however, is gastric bypass Roux-en-Y, where the stomach size is reduced and part of the smaller intestine is bypassed. Food intake and calorie and nutrient absorption is decreased.

What Are the Benefits and Risks?
Those who undergo weight loss surgery generally lose 75 percent or more of their excess weight within the first 12 to 24 months. High blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes often resolve within months. Risks range from mild to life-threatening complications and may include small bowel obstructions, ulcers and possible death. Consult your doctor for all risks and benefits.

“Weight loss surgery is a tool and is not the ‘magic bullet,’” says Kimberly Taylor, bariatric program manager at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. “Successful patients are committed to lifelong vitamin supplementation, exercise, routine blood work and follow-up with their physician, and make necessary changes in their eating habits and lifestyle.”

Call 713-222-CARE to register for a free weight loss surgery education seminar at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital or Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center.