Surgical Weight Loss or otherwise called as Bariatric surgery has been available for the past several years. However, bar iatric surgery is not a magic cure and is not an easy option for people suffering from morbid obesity. It is a drastic step rather that involves the usual risk and pain of any other major gastro-intestinal surgical operation. In this type of surgery, the size of the stomach is hugely reduced by using different techniques.

After this surgery, the person cannot eat much at a time, which can lead to dramatic weight loss, to the range of about twenty percent over the next one to two years. But the large question is, if it is significant. There are considerable health costs involved by being obese and with having undergone the surgery. i.e., serious heart problems may occur by being obese on one hand while on the other, various health problems or even a huge risk of death is associated by having the weight loss surgery.

Who can qualify for surgical weight loss?

National Health Institute, The Unites States has approved certain standards in determining whether an individual is qualified as morbidly obese. Generally obesity is measured using body mass index or BMI that is determined by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by the height of the person in meters squared. Individuals with a BMI greater than 35 to 40 associated with other severe disorders qualify for the weight loss surgery. It is also a common requirement that the patient should have had a failed attempt earlier at other weight loss programs for a minimum of 18 months period.

After having met with the NIH standards and disorders assessed, the psychological state of the patient is assessed by most doctors, which may also require consultation with a psychiatrist to evaluate the issues like familial relationships, body image and addiction. Finally the decision to perform the surgery is made by taking into account all these issues. Many people who inquire about the weight loss surgery do not receive surgery and instead counseling is done on other weight loss programs that do not require surgery because of the stringent legal requirements.

Types of weight loss surgery

Billiopancreatic Diversion is a rare type of weight loss surgery in which almost three-fourth of the stomach is completely removed and the rest is connected to the last segment of the small intestine. Several post surgery problems associated with this surgery are loss of bone density for life, Dumping syndrome and anemia.

Roux ? en Y gastric bypass is another method. The stomach is either sewn or stapled in the upper half portion in this method thereby creating a smaller stomach above the stomach. The food bypasses here as the intestines are connected to the smaller stomach. The amount of food intake reduces and the weight loss occurs rapidly. This weight loss surgery is more invasive and time to recover is more for the patients. The success rate of this weight loss surgery is stated to be quite high.

Another type of weight loss surgery similar to the above Roux ? en Y gastric bypass surgery is the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. In this method, the upper part of stomach is stapled and the intestines left intact.

In the Lap Band Weight Loss Surgery, a new stomach pouch is produced inside the stomach. This can be done by Laparoscopic method. Patients now prefer this type of surgery, as the post surgery health complications are less.