Anyone who is interested in a surgery of choice such as a gastric bypass surgery would know the benefits to be gained from it. It is also important for a patient to be aware of the risks associated with various aspects of the operation. Even though gastric bypass surgery is growing in popularity as a solution for obese people, it is important to consider carefully the pros and cons of the mandatory post surgery diets before going ahead with the operation.

Patients and physicians should carefully weigh the benefits and risks of a gastric bypass diet as recorded by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The chief benefit is that most patients lose weight quickly and continue to lose it for 18 to 24 months after the procedure due to their being strictly on a gastric bye pass diet. Most patients regain 5 to 10 percent of the weight they have lost. The surgery and the diet improves most cases of diabetes, asthma, heart diseases, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea syndrome, respiratory insufficiency, stress urinary incontinence, low back pain and degenerative disk disease, and degenerative joint disease, gastro esophageal reflux disease and quite a few other obesity-related conditions

Though these benefits are very tempting, a gastric bypass diet has its share of risks. Some obese patients who have had weight-loss surgery develop gallstones. During rapid or substantial weight loss, a person’s risk of developing gallstones increases. Nearly 30 percent of patients who have had weight-loss surgery develop nutritional deficiencies such as anemia, osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease due to the nature of diets that follow. Women who have undergone gastric bypass surgery should avoid pregnancy until their weight becomes stable. It has been seen that rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing fetus.