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Department of Surgery
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric or Weight Loss Surgery
Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S. Morbid obesity -- defined as having a body mass index of 40 or greater, or at being at least 100 pounds overweight -- significantly increases the risk of illness and death. For the morbidly obese, bariatric surgery is an effective and safe option. Until the mid 1990s, this surgery was done only through traditional, open methods, requiring several days in the hospital, considerable post-operative pain, and a recovery period of several weeks. WVU surgeons are now performing bariatric surgery with laparoscopic techniques, resulting in much less post-operative pain and faster recovery. Patients stay in the hospital for one to three days on average, and can resume work within two to three weeks. Bariatric procedures include gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgery involves making the stomach dramatically smaller so that the amount of food that can be eaten is greatly reduced. Immediately following surgery, patients can eat no more than one to two ounces per meal; this increases gradually to four to eight ounces per meal six months after the surgery. Gastric bypass also bypasses the normal route of digestion through the creation of a Roux limb of jejunum. Food travels through this limb before mixing with the digestive enzymes of the liver and pancreas, causing less of it to be absorbed. Candidates for bariatric surgery include patients older than 18 years who are least 100 pounds overweight and who have tried and failed to lose weight through other means, including at least one medically supervised weight loss program. Candidates must also be motivated to follow a change in eating and exercise habits, take nutritional supplements as needed, and follow up with their physician. Reversing the surgery would involve major surgery with all of the associated risks, so patients should consider bariatric surgery permanent. This surgery has an excellent success rate. Weight loss ranges from 50% - 85% of excess body weight over the first year following the surgery.
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