Gastrointestinal hormones and roux-en-y gastric bypass

Obesity is a multifactorial global epidemic with associated risk factors for an array of vascular, metabolic, psychological and economical consequences. Bariatric surgery offers the most effective results and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most commonly performed bariatric surgery worldwide. The effective weight loss achieved by RYGB is thought to be caused by the re-arrangement of the gastrointestinal tract leading malabsorption and restriction of the ingested nutrients, and consequently resulting in alterations in the gut hormone levels. This review briefly summarizes the current literature on the changes in the gastrointestinal hormones following RYGB. Understanding these post-operative alterations may provide insights on the efficacy of RYGB that may help developing superior surgical techniques, novel pharmacological and psychological interventions, as well as prevention strategies against obesity.