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.

Gastric bypass involves stapling some of the stomach together to create a pouch with a capacity to hold one cup of food. The surgeon separates the stomach from the duodenum and reattaches it to a different place on the small intestine. Bypassing the duodenum restricts calorie absorption.

Duodenal switch surgery is the most involved and is irreversible because portions of the stomach are removed completely to make the food pouch more compact. The risks of developing complications are the highest after this procedure. This surgery requires a more intense reconfiguration of the intestines to allow food to pass through only a short portion of the small intestines before reaching the large intestines. Because this procedure changes how the body absorbs nutrients, patients must begin a lifelong habit of supplementing the diet with essential minerals and vitamins.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is another procedure involving removing stomach tissue. The thin sleeve that remains connects the esophagus to the beginning portion of the small intestines. Patients are unable to eat as much after surgery and have lower levels of ghrelin, the hormone that triggers appetite.

All bariatric surgery procedures require lifelong lifestyle choices that patients must commit to if they want to keep the weight off over the long term. It can be difficult getting used to chewing food carefully and eating smaller meals. Many patients will be under a physician's care forever to monitor progress and make sure they are receiving the proper nutrition. Adopting a healthy diet and a rigorous exercise program are critical for keeping the weight off for good.

Health will start to improve almost immediately in many patients, especially those with illnesses directly caused by obesity. Other improvements will show up over time as long as the patient continues to eat healthy foods and exercise on a regular basis. All patients will lower their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses.




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