Should I have bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery can help people in many ways.

• The average weight loss of medical (no surgery) attempts is only 6% at 10 years.
• Weight loss with surgery can be as high as 77% at 12 months. As high as 60% at 5 years.
• Type 2 diabetes is resolved in 77% of patients. It is improved in 86%.
• High blood pressure is improved in 79% of patients. Blood pressure goes back to normal in 62% of patients.
• High cholesterol is lowered in 70% of patients.
• Obstructive sleep apnea is resolved in more than 85% of patients.
• The risk of this surgery is now lower than medical tries at weight loss. The risk of death is only 0.1%.

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?

People with a BMI > 35 and high-risk weight-related health problems. This includes:

• diabetes
• sleep apnea
• high blood pressure
• fatty liver disease
• GERD
• high cholesterol

People with a BMI > 40

• Learn more about your bariatric surgery care team.

What is bariatric surgery?

There are two types of bariatric procedures performed at University of Iowa Health Care:

• Restrictive – the stomach is made smaller. This limits food intake.
• Malabsorptive – A part of the intestines are bypassed. This limits the number of calories the body can absorb.

Restrictive

Sleeve Gastrectomy

• Up to 55% excess body weight loss at 5 years
• Can help resolve some weight-related health problems

Malabsorptive

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

• Both malabsorptive and restrictive
• Developed at UI Health Care. Has been done for over 50 years
• Up to 77% excess body weight loss
• Most helpful to resolve weight-related health problems

Weight loss surgery can help resolve many related health problems.

Which surgery is best for me?

You and your surgeon will discuss the best procedure for you.