Obesity, a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence in adults, adolescents, and children, is now considered to be a global epidemic. The prevalence of obesity has increased markedly in the last two decades and it is now considered to be a global epidemic. In the US 65% of all adults are overweight or obese and 30% are obese. Surgery is the only effective treatment for morbid obesity, and open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has become the procedure of choice for these patients.