Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Introduction

You may have heard several people talk about the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and you may be considering it for yourself but you may also wish to learn just a bit more before you make your final decision.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is the most common weight loss surgery in America . With this type of surgery, a large section of the stomach is stapled off, leaving a small pouch. This pouch in the beginning will only hold around 1 ounce of liquid. It will stretch over time to hold about 4 to 8 ounces of food. This will aid the patient in eating smaller amounts of food at one time, but the full feeling will stay longer.

Now, during Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, the small pouch, which is your stomach, will be attached to your small intestines, but around 6 feet of your small intestines will be bypassed. This portion of the small intestines is the part that absorbs all the calories and fat, but it also absorbs nutrients that your body does need. Therefore, you should supplement your diet with these essential vitamins and minerals.

If you are going to have Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, you must remember that this surgery is a lifelong commitment. You will have to adhere to a gastric diet, take vitamins and minerals such as protein, B12, iron, calcium, and be sure to stay away from sweets and fatty foods. Your surgeon will give you a diet, an exercise plan and of course, other pertinent information to help you lose the weight you need to become healthy.