The Roux en Y gastric bypass is the most commonly used form of weight loss surgery in the United States. This procedure has successfully helped many obese people improve their health and loose weight. The Roux en Y procedure has been used for over 20 years.

The Roux en Y assists patients with weight loss by limiting the volume of food that can be eaten in a single sitting and the absorption of calories into the blood stream. By using this two-pronged approach, patients have experienced excellent results in weight loss and health improvement. Good follow up care and a commitment to following the eating plan for life is also necessary to achieve the desired results from gastric bypass surgery.

Most commonly the Roux en Y procedure is done laparoscopically; however, in some circumstances open surgery may still be used. With both surgical methods the procedure is essentially the same. A new, smaller stomach or gastric pouch is made from the current stomach. This is generally done by dividing with staples approximately 90% of the stomach, leaving the gastric pouch approximately the size of a thumb. This small stomach cannot hold much food, and less than one cup per sitting will likely be tolerated for the patient’s lifetime. Initially, the stomach pouch will hold much less and patients will be put on a post-gastric bypass diet. Secondly, the new gastric pouch is connected to the mid-section of the small intestine where food can combine with digestive juices and nutrients are absorbed into the body. When the stomach is connected to the mid or lower sections of the intestine, less calories and nutrients are absorbed from the food and a feeling of fullness is triggered sooner. The reduction in nutrients through this change in the digestive anatomy will require patients to take nutritional supplements throughout their life and puts patients at risk for nutritional deficiencies.