Metabolic surgery refers to surgical procedures primarily aimed at treating metabolic disorders, particularly type 2 diabetes, in patients with obesity. While these surgeries often result in weight loss, their primary goal is to improve or resolve obesity-related metabolic conditions. Common metabolic surgeries include gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

Key features of Metabolic Surgery include:

• Focuses on improving metabolic health beyond weight loss
• Can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes in many patients
• May be considered for patients with lower BMIs who have poorly controlled diabetes
• Alters gut hormones and metabolism to improve blood sugar control

Why is it done?
Metabolic surgery is recommended for individuals with:

• Type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 35 or higher
• Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes with a BMI between 30 and 35 (in some cases)
• Other metabolic disorders associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol

The primary aim is to improve or resolve metabolic conditions, particularly type 2 diabetes, often before significant weight loss occurs.

What happens during the procedure?
The specific steps depend on the type of metabolic surgery chosen (e.g., gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy). Generally, the procedure involves:

• Administration of general anaesthesia.
• Making small incisions in the abdomen for laparoscopic instruments.
• Altering the digestive system, either by creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting the small intestine (gastric bypass) or by removing a large portion of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy).
• Closing the incisions.

The surgery typically takes 1-3 hours, depending on the specific procedure. Patients usually stay in the hospital for 1-3 days post-surgery for monitoring and to begin adjusting to their new dietary requirements.