What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric Bypass Surgery is a surgical aid to cure morbid obesity. Morbid obesity is a complex, medical disease, which affects more than nine million people in the United States. It is not a moral problem due to a lack of will power. Studies have shown that diets, medications, behavioral modification or exercise programs have a 95% failure rate in this population, due to underlying physiologic, chemical and genetic factors. Morbidly obese patients have a very high risk of associated health problems and early death. People who may consider gastrointestinal surgery include those with a body mass index (BMI) above 40about 100 pounds of overweight for men and 80 pounds for women. People with a BMI between 35 and 40 who suffer from type 2 diabetes or life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems such as severe sleep apnea or obesity-related heart disease may also be candidates for surgery.