Gastric bypass – This is a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach surgically by dividing the stomach pouch into two. The small intestine is then divided, and the lower end of the divided small intestine is connected to the first part of the stomach pouch. The 2nd part of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine are still connected, so lower down the small intestine, gastric juices produced in the 2nd part of the pouch will eventually mix with the food.

The smaller stomach pouch means that the patient’s appetite as well as ability to eat is significantly reduced. The bypass can lead to dramatic changes in weight loss. A gastric bypass allows people with chronic weight gain problems to lose weight which would otherwise endanger their lives. The procedure also requires certain dietary restrictions to be followed by the patient post-surgery since some digestive functions will not function as they used to.