Medline Plus writes that weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, bypass surgery, gastric banding, and obesity surgery, might be an option for you if you're very overweight and can't lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise. This surgery is generally for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are a little less overweight, surgeons feel this still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. Charles Bankhead has reported for MePage Today on Jan. 20, 2013, Weight Stays Off Long Term After Bariatric Surgery.
Australian investigators have reported obese patients maintained about 50% excess weight loss for as long as 15 years after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). These investigators have reported in the Annals of Surgery that a systematic review of published studies revealed a mean excess weight loss of 54% at 10 years and beyond that for patients treated with LAGB or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).
The researchers have said, "The systematic review serves to emphasize the clinical value of all current bariatric procedures. With a weighted mean of more than 50% excess weight loss at 10 years or more, bariatric surgery far exceeds the effectiveness of nonsurgical weight loss programs in terms of long-term effectiveness, a key requirement for treating a chronic disease such as obesity." It is not believed by the researchers that their results are unique to Australia, as the systematic review was derived from European groups.
