This procedure, also known as gastric bypass surgery, is designed to control food intake. It is performed on people who are very obese and have unsuccessfully tried to lose weight through dieting and exercise. It is a fairly complex procedure that must be carefully considered before being undertaken. The surgery can prevent many diseases that are commonly caused by overeating, like diabetes and heart problems.

Procedure information
There are two ways in which bariatric surgery is performed. One is called the Roux-en-Y bypass, which uses one long incision to perform an open operation. It is also possible to do the procedure laparoscopically, but as this technique is newer, long-term results have yet to be evaluated and it is still considered risky.

The second way is called billopancreatic diversion, where parts of the stomach are removed. This is less common due to a tendency for the patient to develop nutritional deficiencies after the procedure.

With either technique, a portion of the stomach is stapled to reduce its size, then a part of the small intestine is attached to the stomach, bypassing the duodenum and thus lowering absorption of the food by the body. This restricts food intake and controls hunger, leading to effective weight loss.

Recovery time
It is normal for patients to stay in hospital for a day or two following weight loss surgery. Depending on the individual, 2 to 5 weeks may be required for a full recovery and resumption of regular daily activities. For a while after the surgery, the patient will feel pain and discomfort around the stomach and there will be some swelling. Doctors can prescribe painkillers to ease the discomfort.