Question:
My Dr told me that I have 200 cm functioning with food and the rest has been bypassed

I was wondering how much intestine is normally left functioning and if more intestine bypassed would give better weight loss results or is this much being bypassed plenty?? Thank You..Caitlin    — Caitlin F. (posted on November 26, 2002)

November 26, 2002
200 cm is about six feet. Your small intestine is about 26 feet. I have never heard of anyone being that distal. Usually the most they do is 150 cm which is just about 5 feet. That is considered as distal. The more distal you are have advantages and disadvantages. You will malabsorb more calories, so you will lose weiht quickly and probably not regain. The bad thing is you will also malabsorb more vitamins and nutrients at the same time. You would need a lot more supplements to stay healthy.
   — Linda A.

November 26, 2002
Your common channel is 200cm (about 80", less than 7 ft)? Mine is only 100cm (40". 80" is a very reasonable figure to work with. You will still work at your nutriton, supplementing the basic 8, fairly heaviily, and gett frequent labs. BUT if something starts to fall, you can turn it easily, if you're paying attention. I know 80-85" people who have gotten 80-90% wt loss and are maintaining after 2 yrs. The post-op nutrition plan you follow will determine how much you keep off over the long haul.
   — vitalady