Malabsorption can be literally translated as “bad absorption.” It is a condition in which the body is unable to absorb the nutritional contents of food because artificial conditions (such as reconfiguring the bowel).
Some types of bariatric surgery are malabsorptive, meaning they are intended to interfere with the absorption of calories through the intestine. The gastric bypass is a malabsorptive surgery.
Definitions from around the Web:
“Malabsorption can result from a wide range of diseases. Typically, malabsorption can be the failure to absorb specific sugars, fats, proteins, or vitamins. It can also be a general malabsorption of food.” -National Library of Medicine
“Malabsorption syndrome is an alteration in the ability of the intestine to absorb nutrients adequately into the bloodstream. It may refer to malabsorption of one specific nutrient or for specific carbohydrates, fats, or trace elements (micronutrients).” -Health A to Z
“While malabsorptive procedures are more effective in causing excess weight to be lost than procedures that are solely restrictive, they also carry more risk for nutritional deficiencies.” -University of Virginia