Marcia's blog

Most people are probably aware by now that obesity constitutes an epidemic health problem in the US and around the world—particularly the 11 million Americans who are considered “morbidly obese,” meaning they weigh from 80 to 100 pounds more than average.

Advances in weight-loss surgery techniques hold out increased hope for the many thousands of people who struggle every day with the health consequences of being overweight. Particularly encouraging is the trend toward the development of safer incisionless procedures.

Weight-loss surgery techniques have made great progress since the early days, when as many as 50 percent of patients experienced complications and frequently needed repeat or “revisional” surgery after the initial procedure. But even with the strides that have been made in surgical methods, it’s still true that not all bariatric surgery leads to immediate or long-term success.

Treatment options are multiplying for people who are severely overweight. Of course, there are always new miracle diets popping up, but for many people diet and exercise programs simply aren’t working to help them lose weight, regain the ability to move and function normally, and alleviate the health complications that obesity can cause. For people in this group, weight-loss surgery has gained a lot of acceptance as a potentially life-saving healthcare option.

In the past, gastric bypass has been regarded by many medical experts as the recommended standard, and it was by far the most frequently chosen procedure. In 2003, Roux-en-y gastric bypass accounted for 85% of all bariatric surgeries performed. In part this is because gastric bypass surgery has been available since the 1970s and thus has a more proven track record. It is also covered by most insurance companies as an effective treatment for morbid obesity. Laparoscopic band surgery, on the other hand, was only approved in the U.S.