Clinical Definition

Gastric bypass is a surgical intervention for obese patients or for patients with combination of a higher BMI and an obesity-related health problem such as uncontrollable type 2 diabetes. Of the many procedures, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most common. The surgeon creates a small pouch by dividing the upper end of stomach. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch, allowing food to bypass the lower stomach, duodenum and first part of the jejunum.

In Our Own Words

Gastric bypass, also known as weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery, is an intervention for people who have more than just a few pounds to lose. Candidates include obese patients or those who are not morbidly obese but have a significant health problem related to their weight, such as heart disease or diabetes.

The most common type of procedure is known as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: the surgeon first makes a small pouch out of the upper end of the stomach; a section of small intestine is then connected between the new, small stomach pouch and a point much further along in the digestive tract, bypassing a lot of the small intestine so that much less food is absorbed. As a result, the patient loses weight.