According to the American Obesity Association, one in three adults can be considered obese. Obesity is defined as being 30 pounds or more over the ideal body weight for your height or having a Body Mass Index of 30 or more. In the United States, nearly 300,000 people each year die from obesity-related health problems. Clearly, obesity is a significant health care issue for many Americans. Gastric Bypass Surgery Helps Treat Obesity
While diet and exercise alone can help people shed unwanted pounds; sometimes more drastic measures are necessary. Gastric bypass surgery can help obese patients lose up to 90 percent of their excess body weight. Candidates for gastric bypass surgery are generally more than 100 pounds overweight and have not been helped by other weight loss treatments.
Gastric bypass surgery is most appropriate for people who are suffering from health problems that are caused by their weight. After receiving gastric bypass surgery, nearly 80 percent of patients with hypertension no longer need to take their medication. Over 90 percent of people with type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus no longer need their medication. Obese people who suffer from asthma, joint pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, arthritis, and sleep apnea also see an improvement in their health after gastric bypass surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery via the Roux-en-Y is known to be the best surgical treatment for morbid obesity. The procedure works by reducing the functional portion of the patient's stomach, which causes him or her to feel full after eating only a small portion of food. It also creates a stoma, a small opening between the stomach and large intestine, which allows the patient to feel full longer after each meal.
