What Is Weight Loss Surgery?
Sometimes, being overweight can lead to serious health problems. People who are
100 or more pounds over their ideal body weight are more likely to develop medical
problems. These problems include diabetes,
heart disease, sleep apnea, liver disease, and joint
problems.
Weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery) can help very
overweight people who have tried but failed to lose weight and face serious medical
problems. But it's not a quick fix. People need to put in a lot of hard work before
and after the operation.
The two main kinds of surgery for weight loss in teens are gastric sleeve and gastric
bypass.
What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve (also called sleeve gastrectomy)
is the most common weight loss procedure. With this operation, the surgeon removes
part of the stomach and makes a tube or "sleeve" out of the rest of the stomach. The
new, banana-shaped stomach is much smaller than the original stomach.
After the operation, a person will eat less, feel full sooner, and be less hungry. Part
of the stomach that's removed makes hormones that increase appetite and help control
insulin. So, a person's appetite decreases and insulin
resistance improves after gastric sleeve surgery.
The gastric sleeve procedure is not reversible.
What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
In a gastric bypass (also called "Roux-en-Y" gastric bypass),
a surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This pouch becomes the
new stomach. Surgeons then connect the pouch to the middle part of the small intestine,
bypassing the upper part of the small intestine.
After the surgery, the stomach pouch holds a lot less food than a normal-sized
stomach. A person will eat less, feel full sooner, and be less hungry. And fewer calories
and nutrients are absorbed because the small intestine is shorter.
People who get gastric bypass tend to lose more weight than people who get the
gastric sleeve, but there can be more problems too. The gastric bypass procedure is
not reversible.
What Are the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery?
Like any operation, weight loss surgery has risks:
- People who've had weight loss surgery may have pain after eating.
They might throw up, get diarrhea, or have acid reflux (heartburn) after eating —
especially if they eat too much or too fast.
- After surgery, people need to get used to eating very small amounts.
They need to chew their food more than they used to and space meals out during the
day. If they don't, they might feel sick. They might even start gaining weight again.
- Food can move too fast through the stomach and intestines after weight
loss surgery (especially gastric bypass). Doctors call this "dumping syndrome."
It can cause nausea, weakness, sweating, cramping, and diarrhea. Eating high-sugar
or high-fat foods can make dumping worse. Patients need to be careful about what they
eat as their bodies get used to a different way of digesting food.
- People who have had weight loss surgery might not get all the nutrition
they need. One reason is they are eating less. Also, when food doesn't move
through the entire digestive system, the body can't absorb as many vitamins and minerals.
After surgery, most people take vitamin and mineral supplements.
In rare cases, some people have serious problems after weight loss surgery, such
as:
- bleeding
- a bad reaction to anesthesia
- infection near the cuts used for the surgery
- a leaky stomach or intestine that can lead to an infection of the area around
the stomach and other organs
- a blood clot in the legs or lungs
- blockage in the intestines
- gastroesophageal reflux
- weight regain
Mental health problems, such as depression
and anxiety, are a
concern before and after surgery. Most people feel better about themselves after weight
loss surgery, but some may continue to struggle. Teens who do should reach out to
a mental health professional
and get help if they feel overwhelmed or sad, or have other emotional concerns.
What Else Should I Know?
Weight loss surgery is no magic fix. But the hard work may be worth it for people
who are very overweight and have serious health problems because of their weight.
If you're worried about your weight or are thinking about weight loss surgery,
talk to your doctor.
Date reviewed: November 2019
