Treatment
Non-Surgical Treatment
Dieting, exercise, and medication have long been regarded as the conventional methods to achieve weight loss. Sometimes, these efforts are successful in the short term. However, for people who are morbidly obese, the results rarely last. For many, this can translate into what's called the "yo-yo syndrome," where patients continually gain and lose weight with the possibility of serious psychological and health consequences.
Recent research reveals that conventional methods of weight loss generally fail to produce permanent weight loss. Several studies have shown that patients on diets, exercise programs, or medication are able to lose approximately 10% of their body weight but tend to regain two-thirds of it within one year, and almost all of it within five years**. Another study found that less than 5% of patients in weight loss programs were able to maintain their reduced weight after five years*.
Surgical Treatment
Over the years, weight-loss surgery has proven to be a successful method for the treatment of morbid obesity#. It offers the a safe and effective option for achieving effective and sustained weight loss.
Surgical options have continued to evolve. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass remains the "gold-standard" for bariatric surgery, however it is preferentially recommended for patients with poorly controlled diabetes, severe gastric reflux disease or those with previous gastric band. Gastric band faces reduced "popularity" world-wide, while Sleeve gastrectomy has become the most "popular" and accepted procedure in recent years with predictable and reliable outcome and low risk profile.
Surgical Treatment options
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Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy also referred to as vertical sleeve, gastric sleeve or tube gastrectomy is a surgical procedure performed for the treatment of obesity.
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Gastric Bypass
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), commonly called simply "gastric bypass", is one of the most popularly performed bariatric procedures worldwide and has long been considered the "gold standard" of bariatric surgery.
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Mini Gastric Bypass
The One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB), also known as "mini-gastric bypass" was first reported in 2001. The OAGB is a minimally invasive procedure performed with laparoscopic technique.
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Lap Band
In this procedure, a hollow band made of special material is placed around the stomach near its upper end, creating a small pouch and a narrow passage into the larger remainder of the stomach.
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Intragastric Balloon (Orbera)
Gastric balloon, also called endoscopic intragastric balloon, is a non-surgical weight-loss procedure which involves the insertion of a specialized balloon inside the stomach to occupy space and limit the food carrying capacity of the stomach.
** American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) / American College of Endocrinology. (ACE) Statement on the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Obesity (1998 Revision).
AACE/ACE Obesity Task Force. Endocr Pract. 1998; Vol. 4 No. 5: 297-330.
* Kramer FM et al. Long-term follow-up of behavioral treatment for obesity: patterns of weight regain among men and women. Int J Obes 1989; 13:123-136.
# SAGES/ASBS Guidelines for Laparoscopic and Conventional Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity. American Society for Bariatric Surgery.