Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical procedure in which the stomach is divided into two sections, which are then reconnected to the small intestine. The stomach is divided into one smaller and one bigger portion. Currently the reconnection of the small intestine is done through various methods. Gastric bypass surgery in Mexico has been developed into various variants suitable for different applications.

This procedure is applied in treating morbid obesity. Some people cannot control their body weight through exercise and dietary efforts leaving this procedure the only viable option. It is recommendable in cases where obesity threatens of exerts adverse effects on quality of life. A hundred pounds over the ideal weight is considered life threatening. According to insurance companies, ideal body weight is one at which life is expected to be longest.

Morbid obesity is corrected by gastric bypass surgery through two major effects. The first effect is through the reduction of the total volume of stomach that is functional. Reduced functional stomach volume reduces the amount of food that can be held and digested by the stomach. With reduced digestion, absorption is also reduced hence the overall body weight.

The second effect caused by this procedure is altering the response food receives from the body and the stomach. There is a difference in how patients feel when they eat food after undergoing the surgery. The stomach feels full after taking a small amount of food. This feeling can last for weeks, but it changes slowly as the pouches enlarge to accommodate more food. It is rare for a person to become obese again after undergoing the procedure.

There are three main variants of the process, that is, proximal, distal, and mini gastric bypass. The commonest of all is the proximal variant. It is widely performed in the United States than any other variant currently in use. In the year 2008, over 200, 000 people underwent this procedure to correct morbid obesity. The small intestine is rearranged into a Y-configuration to allow food from small stomach pouch to flow through a Roux limb.

In the distal variant, the Y-connection is moved down the gastrointestinal tract reducing the total surface area available for absorption of food. The smaller absorption surface area is traded for increased efficiency in the absorption process. The absorption of fats, starches, certain minerals, and vitamins that are soluble in fats is highly impeded. This impeded absorption of minerals leads to a constant loss in weight over time.

This procedure does not come free of complications. Sometimes people spend several months in the hospital receiving treatment after undergoing the process. Others just die immediately or after a few weeks. Patients who die normally have pre-existing medical conditions such as diebetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease, which heighten mortality rate.

Complications may occur immediately during operation or later on. Mortally tends to increase over time with most cases being observed during the first thirty days. When seeking to undergo this procedure, it is advisable to go for a surgeon with a lot of experience in this field.