What is the gold standard bariatric surgery procedure?

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is considered the gold standard bariatric surgery procedure due to its long history of efficacy and safety in promoting significant weight loss and improving obesity-related comorbidities. This procedure not only restricts food intake by creating a small gastric pouch but also alters the way food is absorbed by bypassing a portion of the small intestine, which enhances weight loss and metabolic improvements.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has demonstrated substantial long-term weight loss results and beneficial effects on conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It is widely recognized for its durability and the ability to provide patients with a balanced approach to weight loss, combining both restrictive and malabsorptive elements.

While other bariatric procedures, such as adjustable gastric banding and vertical sleeve gastrectomy, have their own merits and may be suitable for certain patients, they typically do not produce the same level of metabolic improvement or profound weight loss as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch is effective but is generally associated with a higher complication rate and is not as frequently performed as the Roux-en-Y procedure, which is why this latter option is the gold standard.