Bariatric Medicine Dictionary

A Bariatric Medicine Dictionary

A Glossary to Better Understand the Bariatric Literature

    • Absorption – Process by which digested food is absorbed by the lower part of the small intestine into the blood stream
    • Adipose – Fatty; pertaining to fat
    • Anastomosis – Surgical connection between two hollow structures
    • Bariatric – Pertaining to weight or weight reduction
    • BMI – Body Mass Index- Method of calculating degree of excess weight. Based on weight and body surface area(link)
    • Cardiovascular – Pertaining to heart and blood vessels
    • Clinically severe obesity – Body Mass Index of 40 or more, which is roughly equivalent to 45 kg or more over ideal body weight; or BMI over 35 with relevant co-morbidities (see below); a weight level that is life risking. Also known as Morbid Obesity
    • Co-Morbid – Associated illness (i.e., arthritis, hypertension) disabling conditions associated with clinically severe obesity or obesity related health conditions
    • Colon – Large intestine beginning at the end of the small intestine and ending at the rectum

Contraindications – Any symptom or circumstance indicating the inappropriateness of an otherwise advisable treatment (i.e., alcoholism; drug dependency; severe depression; sociopathic (antisocial) personality disorder)

  • Criteria – Defines potential candidate for surgery
  • Digestion – Process by which food is broken down by stomach and upper small intestine into absorbable forms
  • Dilation – Process of enlarging a passage or anastomosis
  • Disease – Process injurious to health and/or longevity
  • Divided Gastric Bypass – Operation providing a tool for management of clinically severe obesity
  • Dumping syndrome – Uncomfortable feeling of nausea, lightheadedness, upset stomach, diarrhea, associated with ingestion of sweets, high-calorie liquids or dairy products
  • Duodenum – First 30 cm of small intestine immediately below stomach. Bile and pancreatic fluids flow into duodenum through ducts from liver and pancreas respectively.
  • Gastric – Pertaining to stomach
  • Gastric Bypass – Operation designed to make non-functional a portion of the stomach(link)
  • Gastrointestinal – Pertaining to stomach or intestine
  • Gastrojejunostomyanastomosis – Upper connection of the Gastric Bypass operation
  • Gastroplasty – Operation for morbid obesity which reshapes the stomach
  • Genetic – Pertains to transmitted hereditary characteristics
  • Hernia – A weakness in the abdominal wall resulting in a detectable bulge(link)
  • Herniation – Process in which a hernia is formed
  • Hyperosmolality – Presence of highly concentrated substances capable of producing dumping syndrome
  • Hypertension – High blood pressure
  • IFSO ? International Federation for Surgery of obesity
  • Ileum – 2.5 m of small intestine, responsible for absorption
  • Jejunum – 2.5 m of small intestine; the part responsible for digestion
  • Laparoscopy – Method of visualizing and treating intra-abdominal problems with long instruments, requiring small incisions only, aka keyhole surgery
  • Morbid – Pertaining to death
  • Multidisciplinary – Team approach to evaluation and treatment of clinically severe obesity; includes surgical, internal medicine, nutrition, psychiatric, and exercise physiology assessment and treatment
  • Obesity – Pertaining to excessive weight or adipose tissue
  • Obstructions – Narrowing of an anastomosis or segment of gastrointestinal tract which retards normal passage of food or waste materials
  • OSSANZ ? Obesity Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand
  • Psychology – Evaluation of mentally related problems
  • Psychotherapy – Treatment of mentally related problems
  • Pulmonary – Pertains to lungs
  • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass – A surgical method of reconnecting the stomach and upper small intestines in roughly a Y shape
  • Staples – Surgically sterile devices for connecting tissue; usually permanent and made of stainless steel or titanium
  • Strictures– Narrowing of anastomosis or section of intestine; often related to scarring or ulcers
  • Therapy– Treatment
  • Type II Diabetes– A disorder of glucose and insulin metabolism
  • VBG– Vertical Banded Gastroplasty: A type of operation to treat clinically severe obesity. Reshapes and restricts the stomach.
  • VSG ? Vertical sleeve gastrectomy ? a surgical method of removing large portion of the stomach to produce significant reduction in volume and hence restriction in food intake without any changes to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)