Surgical Options to Battle Obesity

Last Update: 1/19 12:48 am

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Ask the Expert: Bariatric Surgery

MASON CITY, IA---Obesity is a disease that affects more than 72-million Americans.

Since the 1960's the number of people who are overweight or obese continues to increase.

Some people who have a tried and failed many different types of weight loss are candidates for surgical measures that can help them.

People with a body mass index greater than 40. That would be a man who is more than a 100 pounds and a woman who is at least 80 pounds overweight.

People with a high body mass index with other complications like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are also candidates for surgery.

Mercy Medical Center North Iowa's Bariatric Center offers two options in weight loss surgery: gastric bypass and lap-banding.

Gastric Bypass combines both restriction and malabsorption to induce and sustain long-term weight loss. Gastric bypass is a more involved operation than gastric banding and involves dividing both the stomach and the bowel. Despite its more invasive nature, in expert hands it is a relatively safe and extremely effective form of weight loss surgery.

The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band is a highly effective and increasingly popular surgical treatment for weight problems. Gastric band surgery has a number of distinct advantages compared to other types of obesity surgery, the most important of which is that it is considered by many to be the least invasive and by far the safest of the available surgical options.

The Center offers free seminars on a regular basis to those who are considering weight loss surgery. Participation in these group settings is limited so that the physicians and other team members can give individualized attention and a plan for the 'next step' if participants desire.

The next one will be held Thursday, January 21 2010 from 6-8 p.m.

Location: Charles City Public Library, Charles City, Iowa
Pre-registration: is required
Contact: Mercy Bariatric Center
Phone: 641-422-6155
The session is free of charge.

Next month, on the third Monday of February, we'll talk about heart health.

If you have a question you want answered about that topic, go to our website at www.kimt.com and click on "Ask the Expert" tab on the left hand side of the page.

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