Final answer:
Bariatric surgery is recommended for individuals who struggle with obesity and have not succeeded with traditional weight loss methods. Types of this surgery include stomach stapling, the lap band, and the gastric sleeve, each altering the stomach to limit food intake and nutrient absorption differently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bariatric surgery is a medical procedure recommended for individuals who have not had success with traditional weight loss methods or who are at risk for death due to obesity. This type of surgery includes several different procedures, each designed to reduce the amount of food that can be consumed or to limit the absorption of nutrients from the food that is eaten.
There are three common types of bariatric surgeries:
- Stomach stapling (also known as vertical banded gastroplasty), which involves stapling part of the stomach to create a smaller pouch.
- The lap band procedure, which places an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach to restrict food intake.
- Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a portion of the stomach to leave a smaller, tube-shaped stomach.
Each type of bariatric surgery has its own efficacy rates in terms of weight loss, but generally, they are found to be more effective than non-surgical treatments for obesity, especially in the first two years following the surgery. However, there is a lack of long-term studies to compare their effectiveness over a longer period.