Morbid Obesity presents a major health threat to our society. Some estimate that more than 30% of the US population is affected by some degree of obesity. There are many medical illnesses associated with morbid obesity. These include:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Sleep apnea
• Thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism
• Hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterosis
• Asthma
• Degenerative arthritis
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Depression
• Venous stasis ulcer
• Infertility
• Skin Infections, etc.

The illnesses associated with morbid obesity significantly increase the risk of premature death .

Today, there are a number of surgical procedures that are available for the treatment of morbid obesity. Stomach stapling, the most common procedure done 5 years ago, has since been shown to have a high failure rate. This procedure, only limits the food intake.

The other common surgical method, the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass limits food intake with some malabsorption occurring.

Compared to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Gastric Reduction/Duodenal Switch is a superior operation because it allows the patients to lead a normal life with near normal dietary habits and sustained weight loss long after surgery. The pyloric valve is preserved, thus there is no dumping syndrome.

The smaller stomach will stretch back to normal in about 12 months, thus allowing normal quantities of food intake. There is no ulceration at the stomach site because the stomach is functioning normally. The malabsorption affect helps with weight maintenance while allowing proper nutrition. Although this procedure is considered "newer", it is being performed in selected centers in the United States, Canada and Europe.