by EBSCO Medical Review Board

A healthy weight helps control metabolic syndrome. Bariatric surgery may be tried if other methods do not work.

This surgery may be done for people who are obese with a:

The types of bariatric surgery:

  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass —Makes the stomach smaller. Only small amounts of food can be eaten. The intestines are bypassed.
  • Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LapBand)—A band is placed around the stomach. This means the person eats less food. But, the intestines are not bypassed. The doctor can change the size of the band. This changes how fast food moves out of the pouch.
  • Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty—Small cuts are made in the belly. Thin, lighted tubes are placed into the cuts. The doctor uses the tube to pass tools. The stomach is banded and stapled. This makes a smaller pouch.
  • Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch—This makes the stomach smaller. It also shortens the length of the small intestine.

Surgery may result in:

  • Weight loss
  • Less or no insulin resistance and diabetes
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Lower cholesterol in the blood

References

Bariatric surgery. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/procedure/bariatric-surgery-in-adults. Accessed April 11, 2022.

Bariatric surgery. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery. Accessed April 11, 2022.

Hanipah ZN, Schauer PR. Bariatric surgery as a long-term treatment for type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome. Annu Rev Med. 2020;71:1-15.

Metabolic syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome/metabolic-syndrome. April 11, 2022.

Metabolic syndrome. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome. Accessed April 11, 2022.

Metabolic syndrome in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/metabolic-syndrome-in-adults. Accessed April 11, 2022.

Prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/prevention-and-treatment-of-metabolic-syndrome. Accessed April 11, 2022.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
  • Review Date: 05/2018
  • Update Date: 08/27/2018