Obesity Surgery

Some people who are severely obese or have related health problems may consider surgery. Types of surgery for obesity include biliopancreatic diversion, vertical banded gastroplasty, and laparoscopic gastric banding. Although surgery may be effective in the short term, there are no guarantees that it will maintain your weight loss. To be successful with weight loss, you must be committed to behavioral and lifestyle changes.

Surgery for Obesity: An Overview

The thought of achieving your weight management goals and better health can be motivating. However, for a lot of people who are overweight or obese, the various choices to achieve this weight loss can be equally daunting. There are diets, weight loss programs, gyms, pills, and medications. For some people who suffer from severe obesity or who have health problems as a result of obesity, surgery (known as bariatric surgery) may also be recommended.
 
According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, more than 100,000 bariatric surgeries are performed each year for weight loss.
 

Types of Obesity Surgery

There are several different types of surgeries available to treat obesity.
 Each surgery promotes weight loss by restricting food intake and, in some cases, interrupting the normal digestive process. The different types of surgery for obesity include:
 
  • Laparoscopic gastric banding (Lap-Band)
  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)
  • Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)
  • Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) -- this type of surgery is not used often anymore.
     
(Click Weight Loss Surgery to learn more about each of these surgical options.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
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