Weight-loss surgery alters the body's digestive process by limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold and/or by limiting the absorption of nutrients. The most common procedures are restrictive, malabsorptive or a combination of both procedures. Restrictive procedures reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, but don't interfere with the body's normal digestion of food and nutrients.

Candidates for surgery are usually at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. Another measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI) The body mass index is your height in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters. There are several web sites that have body mass calculators. Generally a body mass of 40 or higher qualifies for surgery, or over 35 with certain health problems called co-morbidities.

Most patients lose weight rapidly for 18 to 24 months after surgery. Some patients may then regain some of their lost weight, although few will regain it all. Surgery also improves most obesity related health problems, such as diabetes.

There are several different kinds of surgical procedures to help people who are significantly overweight. By reducing the size of the stomach, these procedures restrict the amount of food you can consume. Long-term success depends in large part on permanently following a restricted diet and making major lifestyle changes.

This really depends on the type of weight loss surgery you have and the type of job you do. For lap band surgery the procedures are usually done laparoscopically and don't require stapling or rearranging of your stomach anatomy, thus your hospitalization is usually less than 24 hours. And your recovery can be as little as a few days. For gastric bypass surgery, most patients can proceed with a regular activities after 6 weeks.

The lap band procedure is reversible and does not modify your internal anatomy. Stomach stapling is designed to be permanent, but in general gastric bypass procedures are reversible. But ask your doctor about your specific procedure.

This information is available at the monthly support group meeting hosted by Dr. Rabkin at St. Mary's. JAMA patient page on Bariatric Surgery: www.ama-assn.org/public/journals/patient/archive/jpg121102.htm

Limited storage capacity and narrow outlet produce early satiety. Overdistension causes distress and vomiting, promoting a change in eating behavior. There is a malabsorption of sugars, simple starches, and fats. Intolerance to concentrated sweets can cause diarrhea; this does not occur in all patients.

This surgery is obviously a very serious step. Patients with psychiatric conditions such as depression, bipolar disease, and/or schizophrenia should be under the care of a psychiatrist before they consider surgery. These conditions can become exaggerated by the body changes that are associated with weight loss. There are some medical conditions which make the surgery too dangerous to perform. These occur rarely but must be taken into account.

A3. Patients undergo a thorough screening process at the Weight loss institute of Arizona to identify whether they are appropriate candidates for surgery. Surgical candidates need to be at least 100 pounds overweight. A more accurate measurement is the Body Mass Index or BMI. Surgical candidates need to have a BMI above 30 or a BMI above 30 with other obesity-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

You will want to obtain a copy of your current insurance policy to determine if these procedures are covered. Insurance details can be difficult to navigate, and our insurance specialists will gladly assist you in determining if these procedures are a covered benefit in your plan.

Weight loss surgery is considered successful when 50% of excess weight is lost and the loss is sustained up to five years. For example, a patient who is 100 pounds overweight should lose at least 50 pounds; a patient who is 200 pounds overweight should lose at least 100 pounds. And they should be able to maintain loss successfully for the following five years. Ninety-five percent of patients reach that goal after gastric bypass surgery.

If you're lucky, the weight loss institution you choose will handle insurance matters for you. In any event, you might be surprised to learn that many insurance companies will cover the treatment of health problems caused by obesity but not obesity itself. So it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of what your insurance will cover prior to setting up a meeting with a bariatric surgeon.

Carbohydrate is mainly used for energy production by the body cells. Extra calories from carbohydrate increase fat deposits in body leading to obesity. However, with carbohydrate blocker, you can avoid weight gain from these extra sugar calories. Diabetes is a chronic disease with excess sugar in blood and urine. Clinical studies have shown that diabetes supplements like chromium, alpha lipoic acid and vanadium play an important role in the management of diabetes.

Your personal surgical history and the technique to be used are discussed at your surgical consultation.

First it is necessary to calculate your body mass index, or BMI. To get to our BMI calculator, click here. The lower limit for weight loss surgery is 40 or higher. If you have major health problems related to obesity like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea you may be a candidate with a BMI as low as 35.

It is very important that you do not get pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after any type of weight loss procedure. You must use a reliable method of birth control throughout this time period. Once your weight has stabilized and the appropriate months have passed, you can become pregnant. It is important, however, to be monitored closely by an obstetrician and nutrition expert familiar with your weight loss surgery.

All major surgery comes with risks, and the risks are different for each patient. At the University of Chicago Hospitals, our surgeons have better outcomes than most medical centers. Our lifetime mortality rate is only 0.001 percent. During your first appointment, your surgeon will explain your individual risk level.

Women should avoid pregnancy for at least 18 months after surgery. Please discuss any pregnancy plans with your surgeon during one of your clinic appointments.

Regular exercise is extremely important for maintaining your weight loss. Your bariatric surgery team will help you with the types of exercise you should be doing, and how soon after surgery you should start doing them.

The physician’s education, knowledge and reputation, including specialized training in bariatric surgery and experience in performing surgical weight loss procedures.

Patients do not lose pounds and inches at the same pace from week to week. Weight loss is greatest in the first three months after surgery. A person usually loses at least 20 percent of his/her excess body weight within the first two months, and 50-100 percent at one year, depending on how well they adhere to the program. As you begin to near your weight loss goal, weight loss will slow to approximately one to three pounds per week. Remember that men generally lose weight faster than women.

New Bariatric program appointments with the nurse practitioner are made once we receive your personal history form. An evaluation appointment with the surgeon is usually booked 4-6 weeks after we receive a clearance letter from your clinical nutritionist or bariatric physician. Once a patient is seen by the surgeon and the surgeon and patient agree surgery is appropriate, the operation can usually be scheduled within 8 weeks.

Dr. George Kerlakian performs all the weight loss surgeries at Good Samaritan Hospital. He has been performing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery since 2001, and began performing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band) in May 2006. Read more about Dr. Kerlakian.