Summary
Background: The prevalence of clinically serious obesity in the United States has been estimated at 0.6% (327,000 persons) in men and 2.5% (1,676,000 persons) in women, for a total of over 2 million Americans. Currently the only effective long term treatment of clinically serious obesity is surgical. Gastric Bypass is one of the most frequently used surgical procedures in treatment of severe obesity in the United States.
Methods: The origins, rationale and current techniques of performing gastric bypass are reviewed. The effects of this procedure on clinically serious obesity, its complications, surgical alternatives, risks, results and outcomes are discussed.
Results: Bariatric surgical procedures and techniques have been refined with risk reduction and improvement in outcome in recent years such that long term success with both weight reduction and amelioration of weight related co-morbid conditions is achievable long term.
Conclusions: Gastric bypass is a safe and effective procedure in the management of clinically serious obesity.