Below are the most common terms, definitions, and abbreviations for weight-loss surgery.
- Bariatric – This is a general term that refers to the various weight loss surgery options which can range from sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch among others which target the treatment of obesity.
- WLS – This means merely Weight Loss Surgery.
- BMI – This stands for Body Mass Index, and it is a measure of body fat regarding your weight about your height. BMI is a weight management method that indicates what your ideal weight should be for your height.
- HW/CW/GW/LW/SW – This stands for highest weight, current weight, goal weight, lowest weight and starting weight respectively.
- NSV – This stands for non-scale victory, and it refers to all the wins regarding your weight loss efforts that are not measured by numbers on the scale. Some of these non-scale victories include an increase in vitality and mobility, better sleep, getting off medication among others.
- Pouch – This refers to a smaller balloon shaped section of your stomach that is created after reducing the size of your overall stomach. This pouch now serves as the new stomach and is connected directly to the middle section of the small intestines.
- VSG – This stands for vertical sleeve gastrectomy and is a type of weight loss surgery that involves removing a large section of your stomach into the size of a banana. This thereby helps a patient to limit the amount of food they can consume.
- Stalls – This refers to an extended period when you are not making any progress on your weight loss efforts. It is a weight loss plateau where you are unable to lose any more weight.
- RNY – This stands for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and is one of the most common types of weight loss surgery procedures that involve stapling the top portion of the stomach from the rest of the natural stomach. The remaining stomach is not removed but stapled away, and the new stomach pouch is connected directly to the small intestines.
- Dumping – This is a syndrome that occurs when food moves directly from your stomach pouch to the small intestines without being digested. This leads to symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps typically 10-30 minutes after eating.
- Sleeve – This refers to the new smaller stomach after gastric sleeve surgery is performed.
- Surgiversary – This refers to the anniversary of one’s weight loss surgery procedure.
- DS – This stands for duodenal switch surgery or Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) which is a weight loss and metabolic surgery procedure that is both malabsorptive and restrictive.
- IGB – This stands for Intra Gastric Balloon which is a non-surgical weight loss procedure that involves endoscopically placing a reversible space-occupying device that is inflated in the stomach to create a feeling of fullness. This inflated balloon helps to delay the discharge of food so that a patient stays full for longer.
- VBG – This stands for Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, and it is a form of stomach stapling in bariatric surgery geared towards weight loss. It does not interfere with the digestive system but restricts merely the amount of food consumed. It is one of the oldest surgical weight loss procedures but is no longer used due to its higher risk and lower success rates in weight loss.
- OAC – This stands for Obesity Action Coalition, and it is a non-profit organization that targets better health through education, advocacy and support for those affected by obesity. Its focus is to raise awareness and improve access to the prevention and treatment of obesity and providing a community of support for all those affected.
- PCP – This stands for Primary Care Physician and is a health care practitioner who attends to people with medical problems. This person can be a doctor, a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and it is usually someone who has been involved in a patient’s care for a long time.
- OH – This stands for Obesity Help which is a forum that targets the empowerment, education, and support of all individuals who are affected in one way or another by obesity. This discussion focuses patients, their families, friends, and loved ones, employers, surgeons, and physicians.
- TT – This stands for Tummy Tuck, and another terminology for the procedure is abdominoplasty, and it is a cosmetic surgery that is done to improve the appearance of the abdomen by removing excess fat and loose skin and tightening the abdominal muscles.
- SF – This stands for Sugar-Free and refers to foods that do not contain any sugar or instead of sugar contain an artificial sweetening substance.
- Bowel movement – This refers to the change of food through your digestive tract, and it is the last stop before stool is passed out of your body through the rectum and anus. It is mainly composed of waste after your digestive system has absorbed the fluids and nutrients from the food and drink consumed.
- GERD – This stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease that is a chronic digestive disease that happens when stomach acid or its contents flow back into the esophagus or food pipe. This reflux irritates the lining of the food pipe thus resulting in this condition.
- CPAP – This stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure which is a treatment for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. This form of therapy ensures that the patient has a steady stream of air through a mask worn as you sleep thus maintaining your airways open. This, therefore, eliminates breathing pauses so that one can sleep throughout the night without your body waking up due to a lack of oxygen.
- EKG – This stands for Electrocardiography, and it is a test that measures the muscular and electrical functions of the heart using an electrocardiogram. Each heartbeat sends an electrical impulse which causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart.
- Onederland – This refers to a magical destination or goal for people who are attempting to lose weight, and it usually corresponds to a weight goal below a hundred pounds or losing a hundred pounds.
- CV – This stands for cardiovascular, and it is a general term that relates to conditions and diseases affecting the heart or blood vessels.
