Pros and Cons of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Obesity has become a grave problem, particularly in the United States. The number of people suffering from obesity-related disorders is increasing exponentially. Obesity is the major cause of diabetes, which claims the lives of millions of people every year. People for whom diet or exercises do not work are recommended to undergo Gastric Bypass Surgery. It is the procedure which aims to treat obesity by decreasing the size of the stomach.

Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric Bypass Surgery is used to treat morbid obesity by reducing the size of the stomach and bypassing a part of the small intestine. As the size of the stomach is reduced, the person consumes less food and yet experiences a feeling of fullness. Since, the intake of food is cut down, obesity can be reduced to a great extent. Not all people suffering from obesity are recommended to undergo gastric bypass surgery. A person must satisfy certain medical conditions and threshold Body Mass Index (BMI), after which he is considered fit for surgery. The results of gastric bypass surgery become evident only after a few months.

Pros of Gastric Bypass Surgery
After the Gastric Bypass Surgery, the patient is recommended to follow a prescribed diet and advised to exercise on a regular basis. The success of the surgery would depend only if the patient adheres to his health regimen. The pros of gastric bypass surgery include:

• High blood pressure is reduced. About 70% of the patients cease to take medication for high blood pressure.
• Reduction in blood cholesterol. About 80% of patients report a decrease in the cholesterol level. It returns to normalcy within 2-3 months of the surgery.
• Reduced risk of heart disease.
• Patients diagnosed with Type II Diabetes are less likely to continue with their medication.
• If the diabetes is on borderline, it is likely to be reversed.
• Frequency of asthma attacks is greatly reduced, the occurrence may completely stop in case of some patients.
• Respiratory problems are eliminated within a few months of the surgery. Most patients can resume their normal routine and can also perform those activities which they missed out due to the respiratory problems.
• Obesity related sleep disorders like Sleep Apnea Syndrome are eliminated.
• Acid Reflux Disease is also eliminated.
• Weight loss by this method is permanent.

Cons of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is very likely to produce several side-effects. The surgery interferes with the functioning of other metabolic activities and leads to many problems. Moreover, it is an expensive option and most medical insurances do not cover it. The cons of the surgery include:

• Infection of the urinary tract
• Constipation or bowel obstruction
• Obstruction in the stomach outlet: Post surgery, the outlet of the stomach reduces substantially in size. If the food is not chewed properly it is likely to get stuck. Anything bigger than the outlet obstructs the passage.
• Chronic nutritional problems
• Deficiency of vitamins and minerals
• Nausea
• Changed Bowel Habits
• Hair Loss
• Loss in muscle mass
• Occurrence of gallstones and incisional hernia
• The reversal of this surgery is almost impossible.
• Certain complications may also lead to death.

Gastric bypass surgery is advised as a last resort only. When everything else like diet or exercise fails and the patient is in grave danger, then only it is advisable to opt for this surgery.