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Is weight-loss surgery in the back of your mind as you try to get your weight and overall health under control? You may be a candidate if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, or a BMI of 30 to 34.9 with a medical condition that can be improved by losing weight, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. If you are of Asian descent and have at least one of these conditions, you may be a candidate if your BMI is 27.5 or more.
While there are a variety of weight-loss surgeries to choose from, one of the most popular in the United States is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The procedure makes the stomach smaller, allowing a person to feel full with less food.
Here are the facts about gastric bypass—considered the gold standard in weight-loss surgery—from Aliu Sanni, MD, a bariatric surgeon in Snellville, Georgia.
Sources: American Society for Metabolic and Baria... + 7
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Bariatric Surgery Procedures. May 2021.
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Is Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Right for You? Accessed October 14, 2026.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Types of Weight-Loss Surgery. September 2020.
- NYU Langone Health. Your Bariatric Surgery Journey. June 2025.
- MedlinePlus. Gastric Bypass Surgery. September 30, 2024.
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Life After Bariatric Surgery. February 2021.
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Story of Obesity Surgery. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Obesity Action Coalition. Am I Losing Weight Fast Enough Post-surgery? Accessed October 14, 2026.
