You’ve read through all of the potential health risks associated with taking prescription medicines, and you can’t help but wonder, “With all of those side effects and potential health hazards, why shouldn’t I just go with gastric bypass?”

What is Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass is a gastrointestinal surgery that reduces the size of the stomach, thus limiting the amount of food that the stomach can hold. According to the Weight-control Information Network, a service of the National Health Institute, the amount of food that the patient can eat after a restrictive gastric bypass surgery is approximately one-half cup to one cup of food.

Cost

The first thing to consider is the cost of these two options. If you take weight loss prescription drugs, you will be paying for a prescription, one that may be aided by your insurance company. Some insurance policies will also help to pay for your gastric bypass surgery, specifically if it is essential to your lively hood. If your insurance will not pay, you could pay between $20,000 and $50,000 dollars for the surgery.

Gastric Bypass Risks

Medline Plus explains the risks of gastric bypass surgery to be bleeding, infections, follow up surgeries to fix complications, gallstones, iron and/or vitamin B12 deficiencies, and calcium deficiencies.

Gastric Bypass Consequences

Your stomach is now only able to hold a cup full of moist, well chewed food. Your entire life is now changed. You can no longer gorge yourself on Thanksgiving without getting nauseous or even throwing up. You will now eat ten small meals a day, protein foods first, so that you will still obtain essential nutrients, and you cannot drink while eating. Your stomach will not be big enough to hold both. You may say that was the point. Just be aware that gastric bypass surgery has consequences, as well as risks, that change your life forever, for better and for worse.