Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

Adjustable gastric banding is considered a restrictive type of weight-loss surgery because it works by physically limiting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. During this surgical procedure, a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch that holds food. This pouch significantly reduces the stomach's capacity, which helps patients feel full sooner and eat less.

The primary aim of restrictive surgery is to limit food intake, rather than altering the digestive process significantly. In contrast, other surgical options like gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y not only restrict the stomach size but also change the way food is digested and absorbed, involving both restriction and malabsorption. Biliopancreatic diversion is another complex procedure that primarily focuses on malabsorption in addition to restricting food intake.

This distinction is important for understanding the different mechanisms of action for weight-loss surgeries and their implications for patient management and outcomes.