Bariatric Surgery

If you're very overweight and can't lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise, there are some other options you can consider, albeit fairly radical. Bariatric surgery gaining growing acceptance as a safe and effective method to reduce weight. Bariatric surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest. According to the American Society For Bariatric Surgery, gastric reduction surgery is not an easy option for obesity sufferers. It is a drastic step, and is quite invasive. Both types of bariatric surgery (gastric banding and gastric bypass) involve major operations lasting one to two hours (longer if performed laparoscopically) and patients typically need three to five nights in hospital.