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Treating Obesity Without Gastric Bypass Surgery – What Are the Options?


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With obesity rates on the rise, Americans are slowly making the lifestyle changes they need to take control of their health and lose weight. Weight loss surgery offers hope for those who need to lose more than 100 pounds, and procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric banding and other bariatric procedures are helping many win the battle of the bulge.   

But is surgery the only choice for dramatic weight loss? Recent studies reveal that stomach stapling, nutritional therapy and even brain surgery can provide lasting results:  

Weight Loss with Brain Surgery  

Since many problems relating to overeating and feeling satiated are traced to the brain and nervous system, some researchers suggest that intercepting the brain’s circuitry may be the best solution for weight loss. Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco suggests that the vagus nerve plays a critical role in weight gain and may be the culprit behind overeating and excessive hunger.   

Many obese patients simply lose their sense of feeling full and are constantly hungry; the vagus nerve may be responsbile for this, according to Dr. Lustig, and his strategy for combating the problem is simple – cut the vagus nerve completely so it no longer sends the wrong signal. Dr. Lustig suggests the surgery is a valuable alternative to gastric bypass because it costs about 1/5th of the price of bariatric procedures, and can be much safer than weight loss drugs. (Source: WABC-TV/DT)  

Weight Loss with Stomach Stapling

While gastric bypass surgery can help reduce hundreds of pounds of weight after just one procedure, the first part of the process may be enough to trigger weight loss. Researchers at UCLA conducted a study to determine how effective stomach stapling can be for obese patients, and soon discovered that a ‘sleeve gastrectomy’ could be just as valuable for weight loss as the complete procedure.  

In a recent interview with KOLD News of Tucson, Dr. Amir Mehran, Director of Bariatric Surgery at UCLA indicates that, “In a sleeve gastrectomy what we’re doing is trimming down the stomach over a special calibrating tube to one third or one fourth of it’s current size.” 

This means the patient may still enjoy the benefits of gastric bypass surgery – shrinking the size of the stomach to reduce food intake - without having to undergo the complete bariatric procedure.  

Weight Loss with Psychotherapy

Many obese patients are suffering from an eating disorder that goes untreated for years; binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating and bulimia can all be the result of overwhelming emotional issues that are the root of unhealthy eating patterns. A psychotherapist can provide coping skills for reducing distressing feelings responsible for the eating disorder, and find out what underlying issues need to be addressed. After that, a healthy eating plan from a nutritionist or dietitian may help with ongoing weight loss.  

Weight Loss with Nutritional Counseling

Nutritional counseling is a valuable reosurce for both overweight and obese patients, and can become part of an ongoing weight maintenance program after surgery. Making significant dietary changes can aid with weight loss, but losing 100 pounds or more will require medical supervision and a flexible eating and medication program. Nutritional counselors can help identify problem areas of the diet, determine daily caloric requirements and build a menu of foods and supplements to help an obese patient begin a healthy eating program.   

Being overweight or obese is linked to several health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems and even low self-esteem. While gastric bypass procedures and bariatric surgery can help get rid of hundreds of pounds, alternatives do exist. From stomach stapling to nutritional counseling, there are now other ways to lose the pounds and maintain a healthy weight for the long term.   

Learn more about weight loss counseling and nutritional therapy in our information guide, or find a bariatric surgeon in your area who can guide you through the treatment process.

Published: 04/22/2008, Last Updated: 04/22/2008

By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers

Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.

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Gastric Bypass Surgery Surgery Information Guide

Basics of Gastric Bypass Surgery
"I've heard about the surgery and I'm looking to learn a bit more about things like cost, whether it's right for me, and what options I have."
  1. Gastric Bypass / Gastric Banding Basics
    Bariatric surgery, the surgical reduction of stomach volume, has been performed for decades in the United States. The two FDA approved procedures practiced most frequently are gastric bypass, which creates a small pouch that is attached to the small intestine, and gastric banding, a silicone band strapped around the upper portion of the stomach. Many of today's surgeries are done with minimally invasive technology that reduces pain and scarring.
  2. BMI for Children and Teens (BMI-for-age)
    Calculate the BMI for children and find out what it means.
  3. Body Mass Index Calculator (BMI)
    Take a moment to calculate your BMI and find out what it means. BMI is just one of many factors related to developing a chronic disease (such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes).
  4. Bariatric Surgery Basics
    When diet and exercise have failed to produce results, an increasing percent of the population has turned to bariatric surgery, dramatically reducing their stomach volume. Though this procedure can offer benefits such as weight loss and reversal of life threatening diseases like type II diabetes, there are also associated risks that patients should be aware of. Choosing your surgeon carefully and being dedicated to post-operative changes in eating habits are steps to successful surgery.
Details of Gastric Bypass Surgery
"I already know some basic things about the surgery and I'm ready to research some of the details and maybe ask some questions."
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    Contouring of the Body after weight loss is a major concern for many bariatric patients, however, extra skin around the face can create similar aesthetic issues. Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. David Saadat discusses his experience with re-shaping the face of post-bariatric patients.
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Ready for Gastric Bypass Surgery
"I've pretty much finished by research on the surgery and I think I'm ready to find and meet with a doctor to get started."
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After Gastric Bypass Surgery
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    From new workout routines to eating a high-protein meal plan, here are some healthy lifestyle tips for living well after drastic weight loss.
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  2. Large Diet, Large Health Risks
    Morgan Spurlock and his thirty-day McDonald’s diet gained big numbers at the box office and on his doctor's scale. Read about his health risks and public and corporate reaction after the first few months in theatre.
  3. Bariatrics: The Surgical Way to a Smaller Stomach
    The high profile cases of bariatric surgery, including Roseanne Barr, Al Roker, and Carnie Wilson, have grabbed the American publics attention. The frequency of this stomach shrinking surgery is continually growing and attracting more and more of the medical profession with better technology and more experience.
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    If morbid obesity is taking its toll on your health and lifestyle, gastric band surgery may be an effective way to lose the weight for good. When you have over 50 lbs. to lose, dieting and exercise usually aren’t enough; gastric band surgery can help you lose the weight by constricting the size of your stomach so you simply eat less. Weight loss experts and bariatric surgeons are now turning to an improved version of the original silicone prosthetic device of gastric bands with The REALIZE Gastric Band.
  5. Seven Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
    For those that have at least 100 pounds to lose, obesity surgery may be the only solution for stopping excessive weight gain in its tracks. Still, weight loss isn’t the only benefit of the drastic change; here are seven other advantages of the gastric bypass procedure.
  6. Treating Obesity Without Gastric Bypass Surgery – What Are the...
    Weight loss surgery offers hope for those who need to lose more than 100 pounds, and procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric banding and other bariatric procedures are helping many win at the battle of the bulge. But is surgery the only choice for dramatic weight loss?
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Related Subjects and Keywords: gastric bypass surgery  gastric banding  gastrib bypass procedures  weight loss counseling  weight loss procedures  weight loss  obesity  nutrition 


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