As Americans struggle with the battle of the bulge, the medical community responds with a weapon of its own: bariatric treatment. Approximately two-thirds of Americans are overweight and 12 million are morbidly obese which means they must lose at least 100 lbs. or risk losing their life. Life-changing surgery can grant years to this segment of the population which is at great risk.

Among the most successful kinds of weight-loss surgery are Roux-en-gastric bypass and gastric banding. Roux-en-gastric bypass works by restricting the amount of food that is eaten and the number of calories that are absorbed by the digestive system. The surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach and adds a new route for the food to go through the small intestine. The other procedure is commonly referred to as a Lap Band. This solution ties off a large portion of the stomach to restrict the amount of food that can be absorbed. Both methods result in weight loss.

The patient has general anesthesia for bariatric treatment. Afterward, the patient is prohibited from eating for one to three days after surgery to allow the stomach time to repair itself. Three months after surgery, a very restrictive diet must be followed, starting with only liquids and then progressing to soft foods and finally, everyday foods.

It is difficult to believe, but this kind of weight loss treatment leaves the stomach the size of a walnut. Because of this, great care must be taken not to ingest too much food too quickly, or the patient will feel sharp pain beneath the breastbone. Additionally, the patient may feel very sick to his stomach. These symptoms will improve over time after bariatric treatment, but the patient will never be able to return to his old unhealthy way of eating.