Obesity is the second-leading cause of premature death in the U.S. A progressive disease, obesity often contributes to the development of other serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, elevated lipids, sleep apnea, arthritis and even cancer.

Although obesity is influenced by many social and psychological factors, at its most basic level, obesity can be described as an energy imbalance. People gain weight when they take in more energy (measured in calories) than they consume through physical activity and metabolism. Excess energy is stored as fat.

Body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, is one way to measure obesity. Obesity exists when a person has a BMI greater than 40, or a BMI of 35 with two or more co-morbidities — health problems that can lead to early death. Obesity can also be defined as being 100 or more pounds heavier than ideal weight. To calculate your BMI, use the following formula:

BMI = [(Your weight in pounds)/(Your height in inches)(Your height in inches)] x 703

An effective option for treating obesity is bariatric surgery, which includes gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve resection.

Gastric Bypass

For the treatment of obesity, a very effective approach to weight loss is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, or gastric bypass. Gastric bypass reduces the size of the stomach using surgical stapling. This step restricts the volume of food that can be consumed at one time. The procedure also bypasses a section of the small intestine, reducing the body‘s ability to absorb calories.

Robot-Assisted Gastric Sleeve Resection

Gastric sleeve resection is a type of weight loss surgery that is performed to permanently reduce the size of the stomach. The goal of gastric sleeve resection is to promote weight loss by reducing food intake and lessening the sensation of hunger. The procedure is typically performed on patients whose body mass index (BMI) is too high, putting them at risk during more invasive weight loss surgeries. During this procedure, the surgeon removes as much as 60 percent of the stomach so that it takes the shape of a tube or sleeve. Gastric sleeve resection is often followed by a gastric bypass after the patient has lost a significant amount of weight.

Newly published scientific data suggests is patients who have a BMI < 50, gastric sleeve resection is just as effective as gastric bypass for the surgical treatment of weight loss.

Robot-Assisted Bariatric Surgery

If your doctor recommends surgery for controlling your weight, you might be a candidate for minimally invasive robot-assisted bariatric surgery, potentially the most effective and least invasive option for weight loss surgery. Robot-assisted bariatric surgery at the Scripps Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Program uses the state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgical System, allowing the procedure to be performed through only a few small incisions. This surgical system provides the surgeon with numerous technical advantages, including improved ergonomics and better instrumentation and visualization. Additional patient benefits include:

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to normal activities

For more information

Janos Taller, MD, a general surgeon in the Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Program, is highly experienced in performing robot-assisted bariatric procedures. To learn more about the Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Program or for referrals, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS (1-800-727-4777).