Gastric Bypass vs Dieting

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There are many choices for an overweight to choose from when they are considering methods on how to lose weight. The most common choice is to diet or pair diet with exercise. Some feel that the main disadvantage to this approach is that it takes too long and requires loads of will power.

Another alternative that has been sweeping the nation is the procedure of having gastric bypass surgery, which is also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgury is used to aid morbidly obese individuals. There are many reasons why a person may choose to have this surgery, including quick results and fast action for a patient who is suffering from life-threatening weight conditions.

The gastric bypass surgery is suggested only for patients who are morbidly obese, meaning they usually weigh more than 100 pounds over their recommened body weight. These patients suffer from major health problems due to their weight. Surgeons look for a person who has the Body Mass Index BMI of around 40 in order to be considered for the surgery.

There is also a Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) that is available. It is a short, simple, inexpensive laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery. This surgery usually takes only 30 minutes, where a patient only has a hospitalization of less than 24 hours.  This form of operation is considered to be low risk, providing great long term weight loss, minimal pain. This procedure can be easily reversed or revised.

When deciding whether or not to have a gastric bypass or to diet in order to lose weight, you have to consider the pros and cons of each situation. The main thing to look at when considering the surgery, is how bad you think you need the surgery and if you are willing to risk some of the complications that are listed below. Dieting may be a slower process to some, but it is rarely life-threatening. One downside of dieting is that it is easy to break, fail or stress over a diet. Later in this article, you will learn some healthy eating and diet tips to follow.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

What is It?

The surgery involves stapling the stomach to decrease the size of the stomach to a resemble a “pouch” of 30–60 mL (1–2 fl oz) in capacity. The pouch beocmes the midway way along the small intestine. The larger part of the stomach is left in the body; still connected to the small intestine further down. This allows gastric juices to do their role in digestion.

What Does it Do?

1) Forces the patient to eat very small portions of food at a time.

2) Shortens the digestive tract which prevents calories from being absorbed fully into the body.

Post-Surgery

The length of the hospital stay varies. The stays usually lasts about 2-7 nights.

Advantages

1) A patient could lose over 100 pounds within the first 18 months after the surgery.

2) Patients suffering from High Blood Pressure can stop taking their medications and will have a normal blood pressure within 2-3 months after surgery.

3) Over 80% patients with High Blood Cholesterol will develop normal cholesterol levels within 2-3 months after the surgery.

4) Over 90% of Type II diabetics see great improvements, usually occurring within a few days after surgery.

5) Borderline Diabetes becomes reversed after the operation.

6) Most patients suffering from asthma should have fewer and less severe attacks. Some patients experience none at all.

7) Patients will see an improvement of exercise tolerance and breathing ability. This usually occurs within the first few months after the operation.

8) Those suffering from Sleep Apnea Syndrome will experience dramatic relief.

9) Relief of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can be seen.

10) Removing the gallbladder during the surgery can cure Gallbladder Disease.

11) Patients will find relief from Low Back Pain and Degenerative Disk Disease, and Degenerative Joint

Disease because there will be less weight on the weight-bearing joints throughout the weight.

Disadvantages

1) A patient will get very sick if they eat too much food in one sitting.

2) Patients have to avoid foods high in sugar and fat, milk, milk sugar, red meats.

3) Patients have to constantly drink water to avoid dehydration.

4) The mortality rate is approximately 2% overall: 1% of the patients suffer immediate complications and death; 1% of patients will have post-operative complications within one month of surgury that lead to death.

5) 25% of patients will have some sort of post-operative compications, such as a hernia or gall stones.

Other complications can be see below, including:

Atelectasis: Partial collapse of part of a lung.

Pneumonia: Infection of the lungs.

Pulmonary Embolism: Formation of blood clots that affect the legs, heart and other areas of the body.

Abscess: A collection of infected fluid or pus.

Urinary Tract Infection

Bleeding

Hemorrhage

Transfusions

Bowel Obstruction

Food Intolerance

When you are interested in reading about the gastric bypass surgery, as well as other weight loss surgeries, you should consider picking up or browsing one of the following publications:

Before and After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery  by Susan Maria Leach

Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat, High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years after Surgery by Patt Levine

Gastric Bypass Surgery by Mary McGowan

The Patient's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery: Everything You Need To Know About Gastric Bypass and Bariatric Surgery by S. Ross, M.D. Fox

The Magic Pill: A Mental Health Companion for the Gastric Bypass Patient  by Teri Kai Holtzclaw

I Want To Live: Gastric Bypass Reversal by Dani Hart

I'm Still Hungry by Carnie Wilson

Dieting and Healthy Eating Tips

1) Reduce Fat and Cholesterol

Using skim or low-fat milk or cheese.

Cut back on the amount of fat used when cooking.

Choose lean cuts of meat.

Trim fat from meat that you can see.

Roast, bake, broil or simmer your meats.

Do not eat the skin from poultry.

Use egg whites instead of whole eggs.

2) Control Calories

Avoid overeating.

Eat in moderation and digest a variety of foods.

Eat slowly and chew all of your food well.

Avoid second helpings.

Decrease fat and sugar intake.

3) Reduce Sugar

Avoid high sugar foods- look out for words such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose.

Eat unsweetened canned fruit or fruit canned in is own juice.

Use less sugar when cooking.

4) Reduce Sodium

Decrease the amount of salt you use while cooking and eating.

Avoid high sodium foods.

Drain and rinse canned vegetables.

5) Increase Fiber

Eat whole-grain breads, cereals and pastas.

Eat more raw fruits and vegetables.

Add fiber to your meals, such as nuts and seeds.

Add 1 to 3 tablespoons of fiber to your daily diet.
 

6) Increase Calcium

Eat two or more servings of foods filled with calcium every day.

Eat foods, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, sardines or salmon (canned with bones), cottage cheese, dried beans, tofu and broccoli.