Gastric Bypass Causes Drop in Appetite Stimulation

A study out of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga, determined that the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin was suppressed after gastric bypass surgery, which does not occur with other stomach surgeries. Lead author Edward Lin, DO, investigated the hormone levels because it was so common for patients to lose their appetites after gastric bypass surgery. Pre- and postoperative ghrelin levels were measured in surgical patients. Four patients underwent a stomach reduction surgery and 4 patients underwent surgery to control acid reflux. Among those patients who had gastric bypass surgery, there was a 100-point drop in ghrelin levels, whereas the other procedures did not produce significant reduction in ghrelin levels. According to Dr. Lin, "It has always been accepted that gastric bypass is the ?gold standard' for producing weight loss for morbidly obese patients. Our findings just give it more credence."