Severely obese people who have failed to loose weight with the conservative weight- loss strategies may consider other options.

Doctors might recommend surgery to reduce the volume of the stomach to approximately 30 ml or by following a very low calorie diet plan containing about 400-800 Kcal per day. This is performed in consultation with a health professional.

Gastroplasty often referred to as stomach stapling is the most common surgical procedure for the treatment of severe obesity. This reduces the stomach to about 30 ml. And a smaller stomach promotes more rapid satiety. Due to the enforced food reduction, about 75% of the people with severe obesity eventually loose about 50% or more of excess body weight.

Gastroplasty also helps to maintain long term weight maintenance and health improvements such as reduced blood pressure and elimination of Type-2 diabetes.

Gastroplasty has its disadvantages. The surgical method is often very expensive and is not covered by medical insurance. Follow-up surgery is often needed to correct stretched skin. Months of adjustments are necessary from the patient.

Gastroplasty procedure
Two current forms of gastroplasty are practiced for the treatment of severe obesity. The Roux-en-Y procedure and the Vertical banded gastroplasty procedure.

Next > Obesity Statistics