Bariatric surgery for weight loss

Second only to smoking, obesity is a top cause of preventable death in the United States. Extra body weight leads to many health problems, including cancer, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and/or stroke, and high blood pressure

If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more and meet other criteria, bariatric surgery may help you achieve significant weight loss, which can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Also called weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery limits the amount of food you can eat by reducing the size of the stomach. Some procedures also change the digestion process.

Our surgeons have special training to perform these and other kinds of bariatric surgery for weight loss:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (open or laparoscopic)
• mini laparotomy Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (MLRYGB)
• LAP-BandŽ adjustable gastric banding system
• revisional surgery

Related Resources

Bariatric surgery requirements

Health insurance coverage for bariatric surgery

Weight loss surgery support groups

Body mass index (BMI) calculator

Ideal weight calculator

Diets: Weight loss

Locations

Allina's Bariatric Centers

Allina Medical Clinic - Surgical Specialties, Unity Hospital Campus

First published: 06/21/2007
Last updated: 06/21/2007

Reviewed by: Daniel Baker, MD, Allina Medical Clinic – Surgical Specialties, Unity Hospital Campus; Frederick Johnson, MD, Allina Medical Clinic – Surgical Specialties, Unity Hospital Campus; Bruce McCarthy, MD, medical director, Allina Medical Clinic