Weight loss resolutions: Is bariatric surgery right for you

HCA South Atlantic Division - January 24, 2024

Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions Americans set every year, but it can be a challenging one to achieve. A healthy diet and regular exercise go a long way to cutting those extra pounds, but sometimes these lifestyle changes are not enough. That’s where weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, comes in.

If you have a large amount of excess weight or health problems because of your weight, bariatric surgery may be a solution. These surgeries work by adjusting how your digestive tract works, including making the stomach smaller or adjusting how the small intestine absorbs nutrients.

If weight loss is one of your goals for 2024, learn if bariatric surgery is right for you with the following guidance.

Benefits of bariatric surgery

Not only can weight loss surgery help you lose large amounts of excessive weight, it can also lower your risk of chronic conditions including:

Arthritis
Heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Joint pain
Sleep apnea
Some cancers
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes

Types of weight loss surgery

There are several kinds of bariatric surgery that impact your digestive system in different ways. Your physician will help you understand which option is right for you.

Most of these surgeries are minimally invasive and may be done robotically, which helps lower risks and improves recovery time.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

This procedure reduces the size of your stomach and the length of your small intestine to cut down the number of calories you can consume and absorb.

Sleeve gastrectomy

During this procedure, your surgeon will remove up to 85% of your stomach. Not only can this smaller stomach hold less food, but it also cuts down on your hunger signals which helps curb your appetite.

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)

This two-part procedure is extremely effective but comes with greater risk than other types of bariatric surgery. During the first part of the procedure, your surgeon will remove part of the stomach. Then, they will connect the end of your intestine to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) which means food bypasses most of your intestine.

Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S)

A newer procedure, this surgery is similar to BPD/DS but is simpler in that there are fewer intestinal connections for your surgeon to perform.

Is weight loss surgery right for you?

Bariatric surgery might be a weight loss option for you if you are more than 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index (BMI) over 35. That’s true especially if you have previously tried to lose weight unsuccessfully or if lost weight has come back.

Surgical options might also be right for you if you have serious health issues from being overweight, including sleep apnea or Type 2 diabetes.

Weight loss surgery does come with risks, including bowel obstructions, malnutrition, bleeding and, possibly, the need for a second surgery down the road. It is also just one step in successfully losing weight for good.