With gastric bypass surgery, food does not go to the larger lower part of the stomach. This limits the amount of food you can ingest and how much food your body can digest. Because the amount of food you can eat is limited, you will take in fewer calories and lose weight. Also, your stomach can only hold about one ounce of food at each meal initially. This is about the equivalent of one-half cup of rice. Because you are eating much less, you will lose a lot of weight very quickly.
In addition, with gastric bypass surgery, your body will absorb fewer calories. The food you eat bypasses most of your stomach as well as the upper part of the small intestine.
Most people experience rapid weight loss the first six months after gastric bypass surgery. They usually have slower weight loss for two years. In addition, with the diet and fast weight loss, you may experience nutritional deficiencies such as less iron. Your doctor will prescribe dietary supplements that can help fill in the nutritional gaps so you can avoid serious problems.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.