What is a common long-term complication of gastric bypass?

Micronutrient deficiencies are a common long-term complication of gastric bypass surgery due to the significant alterations in the digestive system that result from the procedure. During gastric bypass, a portion of the stomach and small intestine is bypassed, which reduces the absorptive surface area available for nutrients. This can lead to inadequate absorption of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D, resulting in deficiencies over time.

Patients who undergo gastric bypass are often advised to take lifelong nutritional supplements and to engage in regular monitoring of their micronutrient levels to prevent these deficiencies from occurring. In contrast, the other options listed do not typically represent direct complications stemming from the surgery itself. While some patients may remain obese, develop diabetes, or experience hypertension post-surgery, these outcomes are not inherent complications of the surgical procedure but rather conditions that may or may not be influenced by it. Micronutrient deficiencies, however, are a direct, well-documented result of the changes made during gastric bypass.