By Matthew Constantin, PhD
Approximately one-third of the US population is classified as obese and nearly 5% are morbidly obese [1]. Obesity has proven to be a health problem that is not easily treated by diet, exercise and medical treatment. Over the last few decades, weight loss surgery has emerged as an effective treatment for obesity.
Gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, vertical banding gastroplasty, biliopancreatic diversion, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch are some of the surgical procedures that are commonly performed to help induce weight loss in those affected with obesity. While the overall mortality rate from these procedures is typically less than 1% [2], bariatric surgery is associated with other short- and long-term side effects. Read the rest of this post
