What is Gastric Bypass Surgery

?Gastric bypass surgery or GBP is a procedure that essentially divides the stomach into a smaller upper and lower stomach. The smaller intestine must be rearranged, so they remain attached to both stomachs. For the most part, only individuals considered morbidly obese are candidates for GBP. Obesity can cause other complications, so GBP is also considered a treatment for diabetes and severe hypertension.

Determinations are also made as to whether the patients have been able to achieve weight loss by dietary means. Medical professionals also determine if continuing a dietary plan would produce results in lieu of surgery. Taking all other conditions and diseases into consideration individuals must have a body mass index or BMI of 40 or higher. Gastric bypass surgery shrinks the stomach by making two separate stomachs. The upper stomach is reduced to approximately the size of a thumb. Patients feel full with very little food consumption. Patients of course by eating far less have dramatically reduced their caloric intake. In most cases, the size of the stomach has been reduced by up to 90 percent.

What gives individuals the feeling of fullness is the stretching of the stomach. Stretching stimulates nerves signaling the stomach is full. Obviously, over time people used to eating large meals have stretched the stomach, so it requires more capacity to stimulate the nerves signaling fullness. Some morbidly obese patients have indicated they never get a feeling of fullness regardless of how much they have eaten. The smaller upper stomach is part of the stomach the least susceptible to stretching. The stomach over time will expand again somewhat, but the patient by then has lost weight. Smaller stomachs will signal the feeling of fullness faster.

There are debates over whether simply reducing the food intake by surgery is the only reason for the dramatic weight loss. Medical professionals, in particular, behavioral specialist believe there may be a psychological explanation, as well. Some believe the mechanical restrictions on food could be obtained without surgery, thus; there is more to it than simply less food ingested. Therefore, there may be a change in how patients view food. Having a set routine and becoming fuller much faster has changed how some people view food and mealtimes. Mealtimes simply for some become a means to get nutrients. Individuals do not look forward to meals near as much.