Surgeons have inserted themselves into the paradigm of obesity treatment by offering procedures that promote severe malabsorption and physical limitations when it comes to oral intake. A review of 12 different studies was written to address two surgical techniques used in an attempt to address obesity. These were selected because Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most popular approach used in the US while laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common bariatric surgery in Europe and Australia.1

Head-to-head the studies revealed that at 12 months the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was superior to gastric banding by a difference of 25%. The difference in weight loss appeared to consistently remain the same when the next 4 years were followed. Short-term complication rates were worse in the Roux-en-Y bypass. The bypass patients experienced longer surgical operation times, increased length of hospitalization by roughly 2 days, and 5% greater risk of major complications including perforation, internal bleeding, and death. 

The Metabolism Clinic strongly advises against any anatomical restricting or disfiguring procedure as the unintended effects of these procedure significantly outweighs the often temporary weight loss results. This is done in an effort to provide patients with the full scope of knowledge and information they need prior to making a life changing decision.

The rates of gastric bypass in the US have steadily increased with different types of internally disfiguring surgeries being offered. Between the years 1998 to 2004 the number of bariatric surgeries performed in the US increased from 13,000 per year to 121,000.2

Weight loss is not a surgical condition. It is a medical condition. Specifically, it is a metabolic condition whereby the metabolism is abnormal. Correcting abnormal weight starts by correcting an abnormal metabolism.
