Many individuals fail to have success at losing the extra pounds they need to despite considerable efforts to exercise enough and eat the proper foods. Some obese individuals in Ridgewood, NJ need to lose weight because their condition is causing other illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. People who have tried everything else without success should talk to bariatric surgeons NJ residents depend on for effective weight control.

After undergoing bariatric surgery, patients are committed to a lifetime of changes associated with the way they consume food. Many of the procedures are irreversible and they alter the digestive process. Surgeons achieve this by reconfiguring how the small intestine and stomach interact with each other. Patients are able to consume smaller amounts of food and still feel full.

The four most common surgeries are the gastric bypass, the gastric band, the duodenal switch, and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The adjustable gastric band fits over the top portion of the stomach to limit its capacity to hold food. Instead of being able to hold approximately three pints, the stomach can only hold about one ounce. The surgeon can adjust the band as needed by injecting saline.

A gastric bypass is slightly more invasive than the gastric band insertion. In this procedure, the surgeon makes the patient's stomach smaller by stapling the tissue together. This surgery requires a second step. The surgeon reroutes the stomach to empty into the intestine beyond the duodenum. After this surgery, the body absorbs fewer nutrients and calories.

The duodenal switch procedure is the most effective, the most complicated, and the riskiest of the bariatric surgical procedures. The surgeon removes some of the stomach and detaches it from only a portion of the duodenum. The small intestine is reconfigured so food only passes through part of it. Patients who opt for this surgery must understand the results are irreversible and they will have to supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces stomach size and lowers levels of ghrelin in the patient's circulatory system. Ghrelin is called the hunger hormone because it controls appetite. The surgeon removes large portions of stomach leaving a small cylinder in place between the small intestines and the esophagus.

All bariatric surgery procedures require lifelong lifestyle choices that patients must commit to if they want to keep the weight off over the long term. It can be difficult getting used to chewing food carefully and eating smaller meals. Many patients will be under a physician's care forever to monitor progress and make sure they are receiving the proper nutrition. Adopting a healthy diet and a rigorous exercise program are critical for keeping the weight off for good.

Health will start to improve almost immediately in many patients, especially those with illnesses directly caused by obesity. Other improvements will show up over time as long as the patient continues to eat healthy foods and exercise on a regular basis. All patients will lower their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses.