Glenn, Thank you so much. It is sooo important to me that I remind myself constantly that this *isn't* a magic pill, won't be fun and easy, and is a last chance effort to getting my life back. Your sharing has touched me the most. It reminds me again, why I am doing this, what I hope to achieve by doing it, and what I am willing to sacrifice to get there. I am so at peace with my decision it is amazing, and I have people like you to thank for it. So thank you again for keeping it real.
— Megan

Weight Loss Surgery & Weight Loss Glossary and Definitions

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|XYZ

A

Abdominoplasty: Operation in which the apron is removed and the underlying muscles are tightened.

ABG: Adjustable Banded Gastroplasty. Not yet available in the United States.

Adipose tissue: (add-ih-POS-e) Fat tissue in the body.

AGBA (Adjustable Gastric Band): now available; inserts inflatable ring to regulate the stomach pouch size.

Ambulate: To walk.

AMOS: Association for Morbid Obesity Support, a nonprofit organization of, by and for WLS patients.

Apron: Excess skin in the stomach area that hangs down towards the groin area.

Angel: Someone who befriends a surgery patient and gives them extra attention while they are in the hospital and reports back to any mailing list they are on about how they are doing

Apnea: A condition in which a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep. Measured by times per hour to determine severity. Also called sleep apnea.

ASBS: American Society of Bariatric Surgeons; a due-paying professional organization of people interested in bariatric surgery. Its members are surgeons and one lawyer. It is NOT a certifying organization. Any interested doctor can belong. Members are determined only by who pays their dues.

Atherosclerosis: A type of "hardening of the arteries" in which cholesterol, fat, and other blood components build up on the inner lining of arteries. As atherosclerosis progresses, the arteries to the heart may narrow so that oxygen-rich blood and nutrients have difficulty reaching the heart.

B

Bariatric Surgery: (bear-ee-AT-ric) Surgery on the stomach and/or intestines to help the patient with extreme obesity lose weight. Bariatric surgery is a weight-loss method used for people who have a body mass index (BMI) above 40. Surgery may also be an option for people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who have health problems like heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

Batwings: Excess skin that hangs under the arms.

Big list: OSSG has several off-shoot lists (ossg-friends, ossggreatlakes and hundreds of other variations) but the big list refers to the OSSG list.

Binder: A girdle for the stomach area that is used after open surgeries.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA): (im-PEE-dance) A way to estimate the amount of body weight that is fat and nonfat. Nonfat weight comes from bone, muscle, body water, organs, and other body tissues. BIA works by measuring how difficult it is for a harmless electrical current to move through the body. The more fat a person has, the harder it is for electricity to flow through the body. The less fat a person has, the easier it is for electricity to flow through the body. By measuring the flow of electricity, one can estimate body fat percent.

BM: Bowel movement.

Body Mass Index (BMI) A measure of body weight relative to height. BMI can be used to determine if people are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. A body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 up to 25 refers to a healthy weight, a BMI of 25 up to 30 refers to overweight and a BMI of 30 or higher refers to obese.

BP/DS: Biliopancreatic/Duodenal Switch.

C

Calorie: (CAL-or-ee) A unit of energy in food. Foods have carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Some beverages have alcohol. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. Proteins have 4 calories per gram. Alcohol has 7 calories per gram. Fat has 9 calories per gram.

Cannibalization: The body begins feeding off of itself when it is not getting enough protein.

Carbohydrate: (kar-bow-HIGH-drate) A major source of energy in the diet. There are two kinds of carbohydrates — simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are sugars, and complex carbohydrates include both starches and fiber. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. In nature, both the simple sugars and the complex starches come packaged in foods like oranges, apples, corn, wheat, and milk. Refined or processed carbohydrates are found in cookies, cakes, and pies.

CIB: Carnation Instant Breakfast. A staple in many post-op diets.

Complex Carbohydrate Starch and fiber: Complex carbohydrate comes from plants. When complex carbohydrate is substituted for saturated fat, the saturated fat reduction helps lower blood cholesterol. Foods high in starch include breads, cereals, etc.

Cholesterol: (ko-LES-te-rol) A fat-like substance that is made by the body and is found naturally in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Foods high in cholesterol include liver and organ meats, egg yolks, and dairy fats. Cholesterol is carried in the blood. When cholesterol levels are too high, some of the cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, the deposits can build up causing the blood vessels to narrow and blood flow to decrease. The cholesterol in food, like saturated fat, tends to raise blood cholesterol, which increases the risk for heart disease. Total blood cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl are considered high. Levels between 200-239 mg/dl are considered borderline high. Levels under 200 mg/dl are considered desirable.

• Blood Cholesterol: — Cholesterol that is manufactured in the liver and absorbed from the food you eat and is carried in the blood for use by all parts of the body. A high level of blood cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
• Dietary Cholesterol: —Cholesterol that is in the food you eat. It is present only in foods of animal origin, not in foods of plant origin. Dietary cholesterol, like saturated fat, tends to raise blood cholesterol, which increases the risk for heart disease.

Clear liquids: Anything that can be seen through and that can be sipped through a straw. Examples: water, gelatin, coffee, tea. Often the first step in a progressive diet for post-ops.

Clot: Blood that has concentrated and clotted in one area.

Co-morbidity: something that interferes with or jeopardizes the quality of life. Examples include but are not limited to diabetes, joint pain, and cardiovascular difficulties.

C-pap (machine): A machine used to force ambient air into the air ways during sleep; used by those with sleep apnea. The higher the setting the more forceful the air flow.

Cottage Cheese test: A test used to determine if or by how much your pouch has stretched. Involves eating as much cottage cheese as you can before feeling full in a set amount of time. The volume of the cottage cheese relates to the volume of the new stomach.

Coumadin: A blood thinner used in the hospital for some patients.

Coronary Heart Disease Heart:ailment caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients directly to the heart muscle). Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis, which decreases the blood supply to the heart muscle. The inadequate supply of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients may damage the heart muscle and can lead to chest pain, heart attack, and death.

D

Diabetes Mellitus: (dye-uh-BEE-teez) A disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose (sugar). Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, a hormone in the body that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood to muscles and other tissues. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not respond to the insulin that is made. There are two main types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Diet: What a person eats and drinks. Any type of eating plan.

Distal: Refers to amount of intestine bypassed; normally more than 150-200 cm

Dumping: Physiological reaction that the intestinal system of some bypass patients has when exposed to refined sugars (sometimes fat or lactose as well.) It may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, heart palpitations, dizziness, and other things.

E

Energy Expenditure: The amount of energy, measured in calories, that a person uses. Calories are used by people to breathe, circulate blood, digest food, and be physically active.

F

Fat: A major source of energy in the diet. All food fats have 9 calories per gram. Fat helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids. Some kinds of fats, especially saturated fats, [see definition] may cause blood cholesterol to increase and increase the risk for heart disease. Other fats, such as unsaturated fats [see definition] do not increase blood cholesterol. Fats that are in foods are combinations of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids.

• Total Fat — The sum of the saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats present in food. A mixture of all three in varying amounts is found in most foods.
• Saturated Fat — A type of fat found in greatest amounts in foods from animals such as meat, poultry, and whole-milk dairy products like cream, milk, ice cream, and cheese. Other examples of saturated fat include butter, the marbling and fat along the edges of meat, butter, and lard. And the saturated fat content is high in some vegetable oils — like coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol more than anything else in the diet.
• Unsaturated Fat — A type of fat that is usually liquid at refrigerator temperature. Monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat are two kinds of unsaturated fat.
• Monounsaturated Fat — A slightly unsaturated fat that is found in greatest amounts in foods from plants, including olive and canola (rapeseed) oil. When substituted for saturated fat, monounsaturated fat helps reduce blood cholesterol.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acid (fish oil) — A type of polyunsaturated fat found in seafood and found in greatest amounts in fatty fish. Seafood is lower in saturated fat than meat.
• Polyunsaturated Fat — A highly unsaturated fat that is found in greatest amounts in foods from plants, including safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils. When substituted for saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat helps reduce blood cholesterol.
• Fiber — a nondigestible type of complex carbohydrate. High-fiber foods are usually low in calories. Foods high in fiber include whole grain breads and cereals, whole fruits, and dried beans. The type of fiber found in foods such as oat and barley bran, some fruits like apples and oranges, and some dried beans may help reduce blood cholesterol.

Flamer: Someone who does the flaming.

Flames: Negative email messages that are sent with the sole purpose of insulting.

Flaming: Insulting someone via email in a very rude, non-respectful way.

Floaters: Bowel movements that float in the toilet.

Foamies: Ropey saliva that seems to happen to most in the first 6 months postop. Non productive vomiting of mucus or saliva.

Fobi: Either the doctor, or the surgery the doctor created, which is a form of RNY with a differently shaped pouch.

Full liquids: Anything that can not be seen through that can be sipped through a straw. Examples: milk, protein drinks, pudding. Often the 2nd step in a progressive diet for post-ops.

G

Gas: Often used in reference to the pains felt soon after surgery but before the first BM.

Gastric Bypass: An operation in which the stomach is made smaller, and then the intestine is rerouted so that it is attached to the new smaller stomach.

Gastric exclusion: Synonymous with gastric bypass.

Gastrointestinal Surgery (to treat obesity): See bariatric surgery.

Gestational diabetes: (jest-AY-shun-ul) (dye-ah-BEE-teez) A type of diabetes mellitus that can occur when a woman is pregnant. In the second half of her pregnancy, a woman may have glucose (sugar) in her blood at a higher than normal level. In about 95 percent of cases, blood sugar returns to normal after the pregnancy is over. Women who develop gestational diabetes, however, are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Glucose: (GLU-kos) A building block for most carbohydrates. Digestion causes carbohydrates to break down into glucose. After digestion, glucose is carried in the blood and goes to body cells where it is used for energy or stored. Gram (g) — A unit of weight. There are about 28 g in 1 ounce. Dietary fat, protein, and carbohydrate are measured in grams.

H

Hair loss: It happens. Nothing you can do to stop it necessarily. Just keep taking vitamins and eating protein. Sometimes a result of anesthesia or the way your body reacts to stress.

Healthy Weight: Compared to overweight or obese, a body weight that is less likely to be linked with any weight-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or others. A body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 up to 25 refers to a healthy weight, though not all individuals with a BMI in this range may be at a healthy level of body fat; they may have more body fat tissue and less muscle. A BMI of 25 up to 30 refers to overweight and a BMI of 30 or higher refers to obese.

Heavyweight: Someone who weighs more than 300 pounds or has a BMI greater than 50 who wants to have WLS; this is a rough estimate and the weight/BMI is not an exact cut-off.

Heparin: A blood thinner or family of blood thinners that is given to some patients to prevent clotting.

High Blood Pressure: Another word for "hypertension." Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. An optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. When blood pressure stays high, greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg, then it is considered high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.

High-density Lipoprotein (HDL): (lip-o-PRO-teen) A form of cholesterol that circulates in the blood. Commonly called "good" cholesterol. High HDL lowers the risk of heart disease. An HDL of 60 mg/dl or greater is considered high and is protective against heart disease. An HDL less than 40 mg/dl is considered low and increases the risk for developing heart disease.

History: Refers to medical history.

Honeymoon: The period of time right after surgery in which the weight falls off relatively easy without much care. Usually lasts between 12 and 18 months. Then people have to work at weight loss. However, for some people the honeymoon is a far shorter time.

Hydrogenation: (high-dro-jen-AY-shun) A chemical way to turn liquid fat (oil) into solid fat. This process creates a new fat called trans fatty acids. Trans fatty acids are found in margarine, shortening, and some commercial baked foods like cookies, crackers, muffins, and cereals. Eating a large amount of trans fatty acids may raise heart disease risk.

Hyperglycemia: High blood sugar.

Hypertension: High blood pressure.

Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar.

Hypotension: Low blood pressure.

I

Infant: A new post-op in the early stages of recovery and learning to deal with all the changes.

Insulin: (IN-sah-lin) A hormone in the body that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood to muscles and other tissues. Insulin controls blood sugar levels.

Intubated: To have an n-g or breathing tube in.

J

Jackson-Pratt drain tube: a tube that is inserted near the belly button and is used to drain waste out of the stomach. It is a clear tube that has what looks like a clear bulb on the end of it which collects the waste.

Jp tube: Jackson-Pratt drain tube.

K

L

Lap: Short for laparoscopic; this is a surgery that is performed with several small incisions that are only a few inches long and into which tools and cameras are inserted allowing the surgeon to work.

Leak test: Checks to make sure the pouch will not leak into the bloodstream resulting in septic shock.

Lightweight: Someone who weighs less than 300 pounds or has a BMI less than 50 but wishes to have WLS; this is a rough estimate and the weight/BMI is not an exact cut-off.

Lipectomy: Surgical excision of subcutaneous fatty tissue.

Lipoprotein: (lip-o-PRO-teen) Compounds of protein that carry fats and fat-like substances, such as cholesterol, in the blood.

Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL): (lip-o-PRO-teen) A form of cholesterol that circulates in the blood. Commonly called "bad" cholesterol. High LDL increases the risk of heart disease. An LDL less than 100 mg/dl is considered optimal, 100-129 mg/dl is considered near or above optimal, 130-159 mg/dl is considered borderline high, 160-189 mg/dl is considered high, and 190 mg/dl or greater is considered very high.

Lurker: Someone who reads email posts but does not send any postings: a silent member.

M

Medial: Refers to amount of intestine bypassed; middle amount located between distal and proximal.

Metabolism: (meh-TAB-o-liszm) All of the processes that occur in the body that turn the food you eat into energy your body can use.

MGB: Mini-gastric bypass; actually a version of the loop bypass which no longer performed.

Micro-pouch: Also called mini-pouch. A procedure in which the pouch side may be as small as 1 or 2 cc to 15 cc. Think the size of a grape.

Milligram (mg): A unit of weight equal to one-thousandth of a gram. There are about 28,350 mg in 1 ounce. Dietary cholesterol is measured in milligrams.

Milligrams/Deciliter (mg/dl): A way of expressing concentration: in blood cholesterol measurements, the weight of cholesterol (in milligrams) in a deciliter of blood. A deciliter is about one-tenth of a quart.

Mini-pouch: Also called micro-pouch. A procedure in which the pouch side may be as small as 1 or 2 cc to 15 cc. Think the size of a grape.

MO: Morbid obesity; someone who according to the NIH has a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 with severe co-morbidities.

Morbid Obesity: Someone who according to the NIH has a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or a BMI of 35 with severe co-morbidities.

Mortality: Death rate. The mortality of WLS is 0.17% or less than 1/5 of 1%. Comparable to a C-section.

N

NDM: Non fat dry milk. Used for extra protein and often added to beverages, soups, casseroles.

NG-Tube: Nasal-gastro tube; runs through the nose, down the throat and into the stomach.

Newbie: Someone who is new to the list or to the process of surgery.

NIDDK: A part of the NIH that studies diabetes and kidneys; obesity and morbid obesity is a subgroup of this part.

NIH: National Institute of Health; a government agency that compiles and researches health problems.

Normal Weight: Someone with a BMI of less than 25, and greater than 20 in most circumstances. However, a normal weight for a morbidly obese person may be slightly higher due to increased bone mass and weight. A better definition of normal weight is someone whose body fat percentage is in the normal range.

Normie: Someone who has never had weight problems. Your average person! Nutrition (new-TRISH-un) (1) The process of the body using food to sustain life. (2) The study of food and diet.

O

Obesity: (oh-BEE-si-tee) Having a high amount of body fat. A person is considered obese if he or she has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater.

Old-timer: Someone who had their Weight Loss Surgery a long time ago.; a veteran.

Open: Surgery that is performed by a single long incision down the center of the body; normally the incision runs from breastbone to approximately belly button

OS: Obesity Surgery

OSSG: Used to be called WLSSG but was transformed to Obesity Surgical Support Group Overweight Being too heavy for one"s height. It is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 up to 30 kg/m2. Body weight comes from fat, muscle, bone, and body water. Overweight does not always mean over-fat.

P

Pancreas: (PAN-kree-as) A gland that makes enzymes that help the body break down and use nutrients in food. It also produces the hormone insulin [see definition] and releases it into the bloodstream to help the body control blood sugar levels. PCA: Patient Controlled Analgesics. A patient operated pain pump that is run through an IV that and is controlled by pressing a button which dispenses medication. The medication is limited based on how much will be dispensed within any given time.

PCP: Primary care physician; normally family doctor

Physical activity: Any form of exercise or movement. Physical activity may include planned activity such as walking, running, basketball, or other sports. Physical activity may also include other daily activities such as household chores, yard work, walking the dog, etc. It is recommended that adults get at least 30 minutes and children get at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Moderate physical activity is any activity that requires about as much energy as walking two miles in 30 minutes.

Plateau: Normal phase in which the body holds on to weight, the scale doesn't budge downward (and may actually move up a pound or so), in order to readjust. Most people lose inches during this phase. May hit at any time and last for a varying period of time. Some people have reported plateaus of a month when they are a few weeks out of surgery. They do pass.

Ports: The small incisions that are made during a lap to inflate/deflate the adjustable ring.

Post-op: Someone who has had Weight Loss Surgery.

Pouch: The new smaller stomach that is formed during WLS.

Pre-op: Someone who has not had surgery but wants it; sometimes used to refer to those who have been to their consultation and are waiting for insurance approval and surgery date

Protein: (PRO-teen) One of the three nutrients that provides calories to the body. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build many parts of the body, including muscle, bone, skin, and blood. Protein provides 4 calories per gram and is found in foods like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts, and tofu.

Proximal: Refers to amount of intestine bypassed; normally 100 cm or less

Pureed: Food that has the consistency of baby food with no hard pieces. Can be made by adding food and a liquid and running it through a blender. Often the third step in a progressive diet for post-ops.

Q

R

Registered Dietitian (R.D.): A health professional who is a food and nutrition expert. A person who has studied diet and nutrition at an American Dietetic Association (ADA) approved college program and passed an exam to become a registered dietitian.

Revision: Surgery in which a VBG is converted to an RNY or any RNY is made more distal or changed to a BP/DS; changing from one type of surgery to another.

Roux-En-Y Divided Gastric Bypass: DGB. Stomach is surgically dived into two sections, reducing the size of the functioning section from about two quarts to about two ounces. A small opening is left at the bottom of the newly formed stomach enabling food to pass. This pouch will effectively reduce your stomach's capacity to hold food so you will feel full after eating a small amount.

RGB: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

RNY: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

RNY/DS: Roux-en-Y/ duodenal switch

S

Saturated Fat: (SATCH-er-ay-ted) A fat that is solid at room temperature. Fats that are in foods are combinations of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids. Saturated fat is found in high-fat dairy products (like cheese, whole milk, cream, butter, and regular ice cream), fatty fresh and processed meats, the skin and fat of chicken and turkey, lard, palm oil, and coconut oil. They have the same number of calories as other types of fat, and may contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. Eating a diet high in saturated fat also raises blood cholesterol and risk of heart disease.

Sleep Apnea: a condition in which a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep. Measured by times per hour to determine severity. Also called apnea.

Success: Losing 60-80% of excess weight during the first 12 to 18 months after Weight Loss Surgery, and then maintaining that loss.

T

Tongs: A method of caring for your personal hygiene when your movements are limited. Named after the instrument used in implementation.

Transected: the old stomach is completely separated from the new stomach.

Trans Fatty Acids: A fat that is produced when liquid fat (oil) is turned into solid fat through a chemical process called hydrogenation (See definition). Eating a large amount of trans fatty acids also raises blood cholesterol and risk of heart disease.

Type 1 Diabetes: (dye-uh-BEET-eez) Previously known as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus," (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes." Type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition in which the pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, the body is not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. To treat the disease, a person must inject insulin, follow a diet plan, exercise daily, and test blood sugar several times a day. Type 1 diabetes usually begins before the age of 30.

Type 2 Diabetes: (dye-uh-BEET-eez) Previously known as "non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes." Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes mellitus. About 90 to 95 percent of people who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but either do not make enough insulin or their bodies do not use the insulin they make. Most of the people who have this type of diabetes are overweight. Therefore, people with type 2 diabetes may be able to control their condition by losing weight through diet and exercise. They may also need to inject insulin or take medicine along with continuing to follow a healthy program of diet and exercise. Although type 2 diabetes commonly occurs in adults, an increasing number of children and adolescents who are overweight are also developing type 2 diabetes.

TT: Tummy tuck; operation in which the apron is removed.

U

Underwater Weighing: A research method for estimating body fat. A person is placed in a tank, underwater, and weighed. By comparing weight underwater with weight on land, one can get a very good measure of body fat.

Upper GI: Test that looks at the upper gastrointestinal system.

V

VBG: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. This is a restrictive procedure that limits stomach capacity, but it does not prevent direct absorption of nutrition.

Very-Low Calorie Diet: Also called "VLCD." A person following a VLCD eats or drinks a commercially prepared formula that has 800 calories or less, instead of eating food. A VLCD can allow a person to lose weight more quickly than is usually possible with low-calorie diets, but should only be used under the supervision of a health care provider.

Veteran: Someone who has been there and done that in regards to Weight Loss Surgery, and can offer anecdotal evidence.

W

Waist Circumference: A measurement of the waist. Fat around the waist increases the risk of obesity-related health problems. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches have a higher risk of developing obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Weight Control: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight by eating well and getting regular physical activity.

Weight-Cycling: Losing and gaining weight over and over again. Commonly called "yo-yo" dieting.

WLS: Weight loss surgery.

WLSSG: Weight Loss Surgical Support Group.

Wooden Spoon: A method in order to care for your personal hygiene when your movements are limited. Named after the instrument used in implementation.

X-Y-Z

Primary source: Weight Loss Information

www.weight-loss-i.com
This is copyrighted information provided with the express written authorization of the copyright holder.

Other sources include: Weight Control Information Network (WIN). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Copyright, © 2003, Glenn Goldberg. All rights reserved.
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