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Glossary of Terms

  • Acute respiratory arrest syndrome
  • Anastomosis: a surgical connection between two previously separated organs (in abdominal surgery the connection is usually between two ends of the small intestine).
  • Atelectasis: Failure of the lung to expand (inflate) completely. This may be caused by a blocked airway, a tumor, general anesthesia, pneumonia or other lung infections, lung disease, or long-term bed rest with shallow breathing. Sometimes called a collapsed lung.
  • Body Mass Index: (BMI) is a relationship between weight and height that is associated with body fat and health risks.
  • Bowel obstruction: Intestinal obstruction involves a partial or complete blockage of the bowel that results in the failure of the intestinal contents to pass.
  • Deep venous thrombosis: a blood clot, usually originating in the deep veins of the leg; increased risk of DVT after surgery or periods of inactivity.
  • Duodenum: First section of the small intestine.
  • Gastrectomy: removal of the whole or part of the stomach.
  • Gastrointestinal ulcers: A lesion of the skin or a mucous membrane such as the one lining the stomach or duodenum that is accompanied by formation of pus and necrosis of surrounding tissue, usually resulting from inflammation or ischemia.
  • Jejunum: Second segment of the small intestine. The two other parts of the small intestine are the duodenum and the ileum.
  • Laparoscopic surgery:surgery that is performed through small "keyhole" incisions rather than a large incision. This usually decreases the pain associated with surgery and shortens recovery time.
  • Malabsorption: poor absorption of nutrients in the intestines.
  • Nutrient deficiency: Absence or insufficiency of some factor needed for normal growth and development.
  • Pneumonia: respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants.
  • Pouch stretching: The stomach pouch gets bigger overtime, stretching back to its normal size before weight loss surgery.
  • Pulmonary embolism: A potentially fatal blood clot that travels to the lungs, blocking major arteries. The risk for pulmonary embolism increases after surgery or prolonged bed rest.
  • Redundant skin: After having lost weight and fat volumes, previously obese people suffer from redundant skin. This redundant skin may hang on the person's body and cause medical problems and personal hygiene problems.
  • Stricture: The abnormal narrowing of a hollow organ such as the intestine.
  • Tanner Stages (also known as the Tanner Scale): are stages of physical development. The stages define maturity based on sexual characteristics, such as the size of the breasts, genitalia, and development of pubic hair.

Obesity-Related Illnesses

  • Cancer risk: breast, endometrial, colon, prostate.
  • Cardiac/Vascular: High blood pressure, Cor Pulmonale (a particular type of heart failure), coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), high cholesterol.
  • Depression: A mental state of depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia to major depression. It in many ways resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement, there are often feelings of low self esteem, guilt and self reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact and physical symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances.
  • Endocrine: Diabetes type 2, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome.
  • Gastrointestinal, abdominal: gallstones, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), liver disease, hernias.
  • Genitourinary, reproductive: frequent urinary tract infections, stress urinary incontinence, irregular menstrual periods, infertility.
  • Insulin Resistance: A condition in which the body doesn't respond to insulin properly. It's often linked to obesity, hypertension and high levels of fat.
  • Musculoskeletal: Slipped capital femoral epiphyses, osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints, low back pain. Constant strain on the vertebral bodies results in back pain, disk problems, and decreased mobility.
  • Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: A group of symptoms characterized by massive obesity, flushed face, frequent short episodes of irresistible sleep throughout the day, and disturbed sleep at night.
  • Obstruction sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by interruptions of breathing during sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive.
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome: a condition in which many ovarian cysts enlarge the ovaries and cause infertility. Commonly characterized by obesity, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, abnormal facial and body hair, and enlarged ovaries.
  • Pulmonary: obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, asthma.