The medical community views morbid obesity as a lifelong disease. Individuals suffering from morbid obesity generally are genetically predisposed to the condition, and they face environmental, social, and psychological factors that can increase the likelihood of morbid obesity.

Gastric bypass surgery has a history of helping patients effectively manage their disease. The surgery uses two methods to help patients lose weight: restriction and malabsorption. During the gastric bypass procedure, the stomach is partitioned and a small stomach pouch is formed. Then, the small intestine is rerouted to allow for malabsorption of calories and nutrients. Gastric bypass surgery uses these two mechanisms to help patients experience satiety, or fullness, with less food, while also reducing the amount of calories and nutrients absorbed.

Most bariatric programs teach patients that gastric bypass surgery is a tool designed to help patients manage their disease. As a tool, gastric bypass surgery has impressive long-term weight loss results and benefits patients with the reversal or improvement of co-morbid conditions. However, the achievement is not completely due to the surgery.

While most gastric bypass patients are able to lose excess body weight and improve or resolve their co-morbidities, they still must use the tool effectively long term. This includes following a healthy and balanced food plan with additional nutritional supplements, as well as regular physical activity. These lifestyle changes contribute to patients’ overall health and can be embraced before surgery, with your doctor’s approval, to prepare you for the changes ahead.

It’s important to view gastric bypass surgery as a tool that can help you transform your health.