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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Discuss Weight Control Options With Bariatric Surgeons NJ Residents Count On

By Olive Pate


Many individuals fail to have success at losing the extra pounds they need to despite considerable efforts to exercise enough and eat the proper foods. Some obese individuals in Ridgewood, NJ need to lose weight because their condition is causing other illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. People who have tried everything else without success should talk to bariatric surgeons NJ residents depend on for effective weight control.

After undergoing bariatric surgery, patients are committed to a lifetime of changes associated with the way they consume food. Many of the procedures are irreversible and they alter the digestive process. Surgeons achieve this by reconfiguring how the small intestine and stomach interact with each other. Patients are able to consume smaller amounts of food and still feel full.

The four most common surgeries are the gastric bypass, the gastric band, the duodenal switch, and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The adjustable gastric band fits over the top portion of the stomach to limit its capacity to hold food. Instead of being able to hold approximately three pints, the stomach can only hold about one ounce. The surgeon can adjust the band as needed by injecting saline.

Another option for creating a smaller pouch is gastric bypass surgery. The surgeon staples together the stomach in a way that makes it smaller. The second step involves moving the location where the stomach empties into the small intestine. This bypasses the duodenum, an area within the intestine that is responsible for calorie absorption. Patients lose weight because they fill up with less food and their bodies absorb fewer calories.

Duodenal switch surgery is more complicated. A portion of the patient's stomach is removed leaving a cylinder between the small intestine and the esophagus. The surgeon cuts only a portion of the duodenum. The surgeon reroutes the small intestine allowing food to pass through only a small portion of it for digestion. This type of surgery results in the most weight loss but it also carries the highest risk of complications. People who undergo this procedure must follow a lifelong regimen of taking mineral and vitamin supplements.

A vertical sleeve gastrectomy is similar to the first stage of a duodenal switch procedure. Most of the existing stomach pouch is removed. In addition to restricting food intake, this procedure may cause a reduction in the levels of ghrelin, a hormone that makes people feel hunger. Patients feel full after consuming just a small amount of food.

Regardless of which type of surgery bariatric patients decide to have, they have to commit to making lifestyle changes after the procedure that they must follow forever. Most patients will require lifelong medical follow up for careful monitoring of health. All patients must adapt to eating less food, consuming a nutritious diet, and keeping up with a regular exercise routine to achieve long-term success with their weight loss program. Some will require mineral and vitamin supplements to compensate for the body's inability to absorb nutrients.

Severely overweight individuals are at risk of developing a wide range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, severe sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease. Having surgery can help reduce the risk of developing certain life-threatening illnesses. People who decide to go through with bariatric surgery must realize that the medical procedure alone is not a long-term solution. Patients must follow the procedure with healthy lifestyle choices, including exercise and a nutritious diet.




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