What’s a Duodenal Switch and Can It Help Me Lose Weight?

Obesity is a term that refers to more and more people around the world. It can cause heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and many other potentially life-threatening illnesses.

When you’ve tried every diet and attempted every exercise with no results, it can be frustrating and disheartening.

Thankfully, there are surgical options like the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, more commonly known as a duodenal switch or BPD/DS.

What’s a duodenal switch, and can it help me lose weight? We’re about to break it down for you in layman’s terms.

First, Here Are the Basics About Digestion

Before we can move to what a duodenal switch is, we have to cover your body’s normal process. The size of your stomach plays a large role in how much you are capable of eating.

Additionally, your hunger hormones are located in the top section of the stomach. Your stomach connects to your intestines. When you eat, the food travels through your intestines, and this is where the majority of your calories are absorbed.

What’s a Duodenal Switch, and Can It Help Me Lose Weight?

There’s a two-step process to a BPD/DS procedure. The first step is a sleeve gastrectomy, where the doctor reduces the size of the stomach by 80 to 85%. Next, the intestine is divided and connected to the lower intestine up closer to the stomach.

This reduces the number of calories that your body absorbs. The bottom line? You’ll be eating smaller portions, experience less hunger, and absorb fewer calories which leads to rapid weight loss.

The response to your question, “What’s a duodenal switch, and can it help me lose weight?” isn’t exactly short and it’s natural to have more questions!

If you want to learn more about BPD/DS give our team a call at 703-465-5060 to schedule an appointment. Let us help you determine if this type of weight loss surgery can help you experience amazing results!