Based on a research conducted by the World Health Organization, international obesity rates are quite on the rise, posing a major health concerns on individuals affected. Although the prevention of obesity continues to be a major focus of numerous health initiatives, people that already suffer from this condition often try several traditional methods to lose weight, but they end up being unsuccessful. This is why many people are resulting into other alternatives such as the gastric sleeve. This article provides information regarding sleeve gastronomy and mainly shows the way it works.
What is Sleeve Gastronomy?
Sleeve gastronomy is a surgery during which a percentage of the patient’s stomach is removed. The remaining part of the stomach is placed in a way that resembles a tubular pouch. The aim of this surgery is to minimize the amount of food the stomach can hold. This helps increase weight loss, by more than 50% in a period of between 3-5 years.
During the sleeve gastronomy procedure, your physician makes incisions in the abdomen and removes a good portion of your stomach, then uses it to create a sleeve-shaped stomach. This smaller stomach is only able to carry about two ounces of food at a specific time. This figure is quite small, bearing in mind that the average stomach holds over two quarts of food.
Sleeve gastronomy is mainly considered as a restrictive surgical procedure, as it is meant to reduce oral intake and cause early satiety. Nevertheless, medical research shows that sleeve gastronomy also increases weight loss through other means, such as increased intraluminal stomach pressure, neuro-hormonal alterations, and increased gastric emptying. These factors lead to early satiety and faster bowel movement. They also cause the production of extra glucagon like peptide-1, the hormone that increases stomach satisfaction.
What Happens After Sleeve Gastronomy?
After the sleeve gastronomy surgery is conducted, individuals go through several phases to help them transition to solid foods, which they will be consuming for the rest of their lives.
One week after surgery, the patient should only consume clear liquids. This is because remaining properly hydrated helps accelerate the recovery process and minimizes symptoms like vomiting and nausea. During this time, you should avoid carbonated drinks, soda, and caffeinated beverages.
After the one week is over, you will start feeling hungry again. It is at this time that you will have to switch to a fuller liquid diet, which is rich in protein. The aim now is to consume healthy nutrients and avoid any foods with minimal nutritional value. During this phase, people are advised to consume at least 80g of protein on a daily basis.
During the third week onwards, a person that has undergone sleeve gastronomy should start introducing soft foods to their diet regimen. However, you should continue consuming about 60g of protein every day. Some good soft foods to consume at this time include eggs, cheese, soft fish, softened vegetables, and soups.
The next step is to transition to solid foods. This should start about one month after surgery. Some good foods to eat at this phase are low-fat cheese, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and fruits. During this stage, you should avoid drinking your calories, and consuming foods like sugary snacks, bread and white grains, fried foods, and desserts.
Who is the Best Candidate for Sleeve Gastronomy?
Sleeve gastronomy is not for every person that would like to shed weight, as other methods can be utilized for most cases. Anyone that carries a hundred more pounds that their recommended weight is a good candidate for sleeve gastronomy. In addition to this, if you have a body mass index of over 40 and a health condition related to your excess weight like sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, or coronary heart disease, you should consider getting sleeve gastronomy. In short, anyone that is unable to reduce their weight through other means is a good candidate for sleeve gastronomy.
Sleeve gastronomy is aimed at helping people feel full, making them consume less food and lose a lot of weight in the process. Many individuals with weight problems often find themselves taking in too much food than they need. This makes them gain excess weight in the process. If a part of their stomach can be removed, they will consume less food and feel satisfied faster. This is exactly what sleeve gastronomy does. If you are thinking about pursuing this weight loss method, it is good to contact your physician and agree on whether this is the best option for you.
