Weight Loss Glossary

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Esophagus:
The tube-like structure that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. At the bottom of the esophagus, a ring of muscle relaxes to let food into the stomach. When this sphincter does not function normally, and remains open, juices full of acid from the stomach splash back up into the esophagus producing heartburn.

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Fecal Incontinence:
The inability of the anal nerves and muscles to control the emptying of the bowel.

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FOBI Pouch Operation (FPO):
Originally created by Dr. Matthias Fobi for people who did not lose enough weight with a banded procedure but already had the Marlex mess band or Silastic ring around the upper part of the stomach. The operation was converted to a bypass and the band was left in place. It also refers to an initial bypass operation in which a band or ring is put in place, limiting the rate that the small pouch can empty.

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Gallstones:
Too much cholesterol in the gallbladder. Caused by the liver excreting too much cholesterol or the bile being out of balance and not dissolving the cholesterol that is excreted. The sticky particles of cholesterol adhere to one another eventually forming larger gallstones.

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Gastric Balloon:
A small balloon is placed in the stomach through the mouth and esophagus. It is inflated after placement. The balloon takes up room in the stomach and restricts the amount that can be eaten.

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Gastric Bypass (GBP):
A surgical procedure which involves cutting the stomach in two to create a small stomach pouch and then bypassing the rest of the stomach and ahlf to three quarters of the small intesting. This reduces the amount of fat and calories the body can absorb.

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Gastric Reflux:
The stomach contents combined with stomach acid regurgitate back up into the esophagus causing inflammation and famage to the esophagus, larynx and lungs. Also called GERD Gastroesphogeal reflux disease.

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Gastrointestinal:
Pertaining to all or some of the organs of the digestive tracts, from the mouth to the anus.

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Halitosis:
Bad breath.

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Herbal Remedies:
Sustances found in nature and deemed a food substance, therefore not under the control of the FDA.

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Hernia:
Protrusion of tissue through the wall fo the cavity where it is usually contained. A common occurence after weight loss surgery is a hernia where the newly configured bowels are joined.

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Hiatal Hernia:
Part of the upper stomach protrudes through the diaphragm causing heartburn and esophagitis.

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High Blood Pressure:
Also called hypertension, it is a condition in which the pressure of the blood in the arteries is too high. No specific cause is found in 95% of cases. It is treated which exercise, limiting salt, losing weight and medication.

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Homeostasis:
The tendency of the body to remain the same. In a state of equilibrium, the body remains relatively constant and resists weight loss efforts by increasing hunger when food is restricted.

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Hospital Acquired Infection:
An infection caught while hospitalized. Various antibiotics used in hospitals are different from outside and certain bacteria become resistant to them, increasing the risk of infection from them while in the hospital. Also called nosocomial infections, they are serious and difficult to treat.