The American journal of the medical sciences
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The popularity of gastric bypass surgery for treatment of morbid obesity has been increasing in recent years. Osteomalacia and osteoporosis are commonly observed in patients who have had partial gastric resections for treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Recently, we encountered four patients with previous gastric bypass surgery who had metabolic bone disease similar to that reported in the older literature in patients who had partial gastrectomies. ⋯ Relatively little has been published in the general medical literature about this postoperative complication of bariatric surgery. Yet, nearly all patients after bariatric surgery will receive their long-term follow-up from a primary care physician. Physicians and patients need to be aware of this complication and take measures to identify and prevent it.