Information about the 2023-2024 Covid-19 vaccine >
Obesity is a serious medical condition. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) defines obesity as weight that is higher than what is considered healthy for a given height.
This condition puts you at a very high risk for a host of serious medical problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. It may also hamper your ability to get around, expose you to possible discrimination or social stigma and may lower your self-esteem.
Please remember three important points:
A good way to assess your weight is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). Your BMI estimates how much you should weigh based on your height.
See what category you fall into and whether you need to be concerned about your weight. Although your BMI is a simple way to evaluate whether your weight puts you at potential risk for health problems, other factors also may affect your weight. Your health care provider can help you evaluate your BMI and these other factors to determine your overall health picture.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Table for Adults
HEIGHT in feet / inches and centimeters
BMI CLASSIFICATION |
|
Underweight |
<18.5 |
Normal range |
18.5-24.9 |
Overweight |
25.0 – 29.0 |
Obesity |
>30.0 |
Obesity class I |
30.0 – 34.9 |
Obesity class II |
35.0 – 39.9 |
Obesity class III |
>40.0 |
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html
If you are obese, you have a much greater risk of developing a variety of serious medical conditions compared to individuals who are not obese. You may develop health problems at a younger age. Some of these conditions may include:
Bariatric surgery has strong results and has been proven to be an effective means to achieve sustainable weight loss. As such, bariatric surgery can improve or resolve many obesity related health conditions such as:
To qualify for weight loss surgery at our program, you need to meet these criteria:
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure. The stomach is divided into a small pouch. The pouch is then surgically attached to the small intestines bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestines (duodenum). This procedure creates a smaller stomach thereby restricting food intake and bypassing the upper portion of the intestines creating malabsorption.
Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure in which the food intake is reduced due to the reduction of the stomach size. Using a stapling device, the surgeon creates a small, sleeve-shaped stomach. The rest of the stomach is surgically and permanently removed. The “sleeve” is about the size of a banana.
Revisional Surgery or a revision of weight-loss surgery is done when a patient who underwent weight-loss surgery, including lap band, sleeve and gastric bypass is experiencing a variety of symptoms or complications after the operation.
How do we perform these procedures? We at John Muir are committed to offering our patients the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. All our procedures are performed laparoscopically or robotically, which means the surgeon makes small incisions in the upper abdomen through which thin camera and instruments are threaded. This allows the patient to recover faster with less pain and smaller scars.
How many of these procedures have we performed?
John Muir has a well-established Bariatric program.
Procedure |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Totals |
Gastric Bypass |
16 |
21 |
26 |
32 |
40 |
54 |
189 |
Sleeve Gastrectomy |
159 |
127 |
153 |
106 |
169 |
240 |
954 |
Revisions |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
Totals |
176 |
149 |
181 |
148 |
212 |
295 |
1,151 |
We have performed a total of over 2700 bariatric surgeries since 2002.
Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery
What are Potential Risks and Side Effects of Bariatric Surgery?
Potential Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Potential Complications of Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery
Potential Complications of All Bariatric Surgeries
Please refer to the Nutrition packet given to you by the dietitian for full details.
Throughout the entire diet progression, you should focus on a diet high in lean protein and low in sugar/sweets and simple carbohydrates such as breads, pasta, rice.
If you develop severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, please call your surgeon immediately and/or go to the nearest emergency room.
Brethauer, Chand, Schauer, “Risks and benefits of bariatric surgery: Current evidence.” Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, November 2006, 73 (1) 993-1007.
Centers for Disease and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html.
Chang, Stoll, Song and all, “The effectiveness and risks of bariatric surgery: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis 2003-2012,” JAMA Surg,m 2014 Mar; 149(3)L275-87.
National Institutes for Health, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/obesity-evidence-review.pdf.
Schauer, Bhatt, Kirwan and all, “Bariatric Surgery versus Intensive Medical Therapy for Diabetes—3-Year Outcomes.” N Engl J Med 2014; 370:2002-2013.
Sjostrom, Lindroos, Peltonen and all, “Lifestyle, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors 10 Years after Bariatric Surgery.” N Eng J Med 2004: 351:2683-2693.