Can’t lose the pounds that are putting your life at risk? If you are obese and have tried all methods of losing weight, including strict diets, hours of exercise, or even weight-loss supplements, then perhaps it is time to make the decision to undergo a weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgery, also known as gastric banding, bariatric, bypass, or obesity surgery, is a major surgery and is recommended only in case of severe obesity. There are two basic approaches to this surgery – one is the restrictive procedure that decreases the size of the stomach in order to limit the amount of food consumed at once, and the other is the malabsorptive procedure, which decreases the length of the small intestine in order to restrict the absorption of nutrients and calories. There are several types of surgeries under the two categories - lap banding and sleeve gastrectomy under restrictive procedure, and biliopancreatic diversion under malabsorptive procedure. A mix of both the procedures, called a Gastric Bypass can also be carried out to treat weight loss.

These surgeries have been reported to be successful by many patients. However, such surgeries can also make patients vulnerable to digestive diseases.  Therefore, a strict after-surgery diet is required to be maintained, and follow-up procedures must be carried out to alleviate the side effects that may follow a major surgery.