Some of the most frequent questions I am asked when working with a client is:

What does that mean?

Bariatric surgery and the definitions for lots of areas that accompany the process can sometimes be prolific and a little confusing. This is completely understandable - many of the terms and acronyms used aren’t part of our daily vocabulary! 

Here is a useful guide to some of the most commonly used terms in bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery: Weight loss surgery (WLS). Bariatric surgery includes lots of different types of procedures, and the most common types are: Gastric band, Gastric Bypass, Mini Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Balloon. All these operations can lead to significant weight loss within a few years, help improve many obesity related conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

VSG:  Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (sleeve). Approximately 80% of the stomach is removed, so you can't eat as much as you could before, and you feel satisfied on smaller portions. The other important effect is that the levels of an appetite stimulating hormone (ghrelin) are reduced. Less ghrelin means less hunger which in turn means you eat less. Some patients find the "not feeling hungry" overwhelming and eat very little post surgery. It is important to monitor this hence aftercare is very important. You can develop nutrient deficiencies, so a high protein diet with vitamin and mineral supplementation is essential. Expected excess weight loss approximately 60-70%.

Lap Band: Gastric band (band). Involves placing a silicone band around the top of the stomach. It aids weight loss by stimulating nerve endings at the top of the stomach, which reduces your appetite and allows you to feel satisfied on smaller portions, when eating firmer food textures. It will require adjustments (band fills) with saline to reach optimum sensations. The band is not there to stop you eating, and high calorie foods such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and ice cream (also known as "sliders") provide very little satiety with the gastric band and can sabotage weight loss results. Changing your eating habits and lifestyle are necessary to achieve good weight loss results. Expected excess weight loss approximately 50%.

RNY: roux en y gastric bypass (bypass). This surgery is regarded as the Gold Standard. The top part of the stomach is sectioned off to make a small stomach pouch and then joined to the small intestine, so you feel satisfied on smaller portions. The surgery works by restriction and changes in gut hormones. Most patients with Type 2 Diabetes can expect to see remarkable improvement in blood sugar control, often without the need for any regular diabetic medications. If you eat sweet food you may develop dumping syndrome, where your blood sugars fall rapidly, and you feel hot, dizzy or faint and may experience stomach cramps and diarrhoea. You can develop nutrient deficiencies so a high protein diet with vitamin and mineral supplementation is essential. Expected excess weight loss approximately 70-80%.

MBG: Mini gastric bypass/Loop Bypass/One Anastomosis Bypass. This is similar to the gastric bypass however the small bowel is directly joined to the small stomach pouch so only a single join is required compared to 2 joins with the gastric bypass. The procedure takes a little less time than a gastric bypass. Once again the surgery works by restriction and changes in gut hormones. One of the disadvantages of this surgery compared to the gastric bypass include a greater likelihood of experiencing bile reflux. The role of increased bile reflux as a possible risk factor for later development of gullet cancer is controversial. As with the gastric bypass you can develop nutrient deficiencies so a high protein diet with vitamin and mineral supplementation is essential. Expected excess weight loss approximately 70-80%.

IGB:Gastric Balloon: A gastric balloon, also known as an Intragastric balloon, is a short-term non-surgical weight loss tool. It is a soft silicone balloon that is temporarily inserted into your stomach to partially fill it so that you feel satisfied quicker after small amounts of food. Intragastric balloons can be left in your stomach for 4-12 months, depending on the brand (Elipse balloon - 4 month gastric balloon placed under X-ray). During this time you should aim to retrain your eating habits and lifestyle. It offers a weight loss solution to help patients to kick start their lifestyle changes. Sometimes it is used when the patient’s BMI is not high enough to justify surgery. Sometimes this procedure is performed for severely obese patients to lose weight ahead of more invasive surgery. Average weight loss of 2-3 stones if you change your eating habits and lifestyle.

PPI: proton pump inhibitors (anta acids e.g. lansoprazole/omeprazole). These are a group of medicines that reduce the production of acid by working on the cells that line the stomach.

​​BMI: body mass index. The body mass index is a number that is worked out based on weight and height. Generally, a BMI that is between 18 and 25 is considered to be within the normal range, a BMI of about 25 - 30 is considered overweight, and anything above that falls within the obese category. 

SW: Start weight. It is useful to take note of your starting weight as this will allow you to see how much progress you have made in your weight loss journey.

IBW: Ideal body weight. Generally your ideal body weight is the weight you should be at to achieve a BMI of 25. This will be different for each individual. 

EBW: Excess body Weight. This is the amount of excess weight that an individual is carrying above their ideal body weight. 

EWL: Excess weight loss. This is the percentage of how much weight an individual has lost after surgery)

Real Hunger: This is stomach hunger that we all feel and is necessary to survive.

Head Hunger / Emotional Hunger: This is the hunger that individuals experience when they have cravings and emotional triggers. Emotional hunger is not necessary to survive - it is developed over a period of time and often becomes habitual.

Emotional Triggers: Triggers that cause eating when you're not really hungry e.g. stress, bored, lonely. Often, people are compelled to eat for comfort in response to an emotional situation or experience.

Slider Foods: Sliders are foods that bariatric patients often turn to for a number of reasons. They are easy to eat - the sometimes uncomfortable feelings of tightness that follows when a patient is full doesn’t occur as often with softer foods. They are convenient and taste good, often satisfying emotional triggers like stress and boredom and providing instant pleasure, but offer little satiety.

Body dysmorphia: a mental health condition where a person focuses on seeming flaws in their appearance.

Intermittent fasting: an eating schedule that focuses on periods of eating followed by periods of fasting.

Are you confused about the different terms associated with bariatric surgery? Unsure about your BMI or which is the best surgery for you? Why not book a Discovery Call?