SURGERY AND MEDICATIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Course overview

Surgery is never the first choice for weight loss and should only be selected as an option once conservative methods have failed. The most common bariatric procedures used in North America are vertical banded gastroplasty, gastric bypass and stomach banding. With surgery, either the amount of food a person can eat at one time is restricted or food absorption is altered. Individuals who have surgery ingest fewer calories than normal, so they still have to follow a special diet after the procedure to ensure adequate nutrient intake. Weight-loss medications are only for short-term use, and all of them have the potential to cause adverse effects. The bottom line is that surgery or drugs are not a magic bullet; they must be used in combination with lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, to achieve success.