FDA Advisers Recommend Lap-Band

More than 12 million obese Americans may soon qualify to have a surgical procedure in which inserts a small and flexible band in the stomach which is designed to aide a person in weight loss. This band is said to greatly reduce the amount of food a person consumes. The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) will have a final decision for this band within the next few months.

This medical apparatus is manufacture by Allergan, Inc., and currently has been inserted into around 100,00 Americans each year and most of the time it aides patients to lose fifty pounds or more of body weight. Due to the federal guidelines, it has been limited to patients that are extremely obese.

Yesterday, a panel of FDA advisers advocated broadening the use of this device to include patients that are not overly obese. The panels vote of 8-2 that the benefits of this band would greatly outweigh the risks.

If this band is approved on a broader scale use could become accessible to those patients who just wish to lose around 80 pounds.

Many persons have tried diet pills, weight loss programs such as weight watchers and numerous other noted diet plans to no avail.

Under the current guidelines being obese by 80 pounds is not enough to qualify for the surgery.

However, health experts make a point that Lap-Band does not stop behavior that has been deeply rooted that impels persons to overeat. However, this procedure is a tremendous cost and a lot of patients will have an obstacle.

Greater than one-third of American adults are now obese. Fifteen million of those adults meet the guidelines for gastric banding surgery. Currently, these guidelines state a person must have a body mass index of 40 or greater, or BMI (body mass index) of 35 or greater if the person also endures from medical issues that are related to weight such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

If the proposal is accepted it then would decrease the weight requirement to a BMI of 35 or greater and 30 with one health related problem. Also, the number of eligible patients would increase to 27 million, based upon federal health data.

Practitioners have noted that by expanding the guidelines it could aide patients who have lower BMIs to avoid dangerous health problems later on in life.

Dr. Jack Ditslear, a surgeon at Clarian Bariatrics in Indianapolis, states that it is a known fact that obesity does cause increased risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. The ideal situation is to lose the weight before the start of one of those disease.

The Lap-Band has been available in the United States since 2001. A ring is placed over the top of the stomach and then inflated using saline to tighten it and restrict the amount of food which is allowed to enter and pass through the stomach.

This device had been created for an alternative to gastric bypass surgery, a permanent procedure where food is rerouted from a pouch in the stomach to the small intestines.

Last year figures indicate that there were 220,000 gastric surgeries performed. Banding had counted for 40% of the surgeries. Surgeons state that the banding procedure is reversible and carries a small risk.

The procedure however, costs around $14,000 to $20,000 and the device costs another $3,000.

Analyst Gary Nachman, from Susquehanna International states insurers and patients are reluctant to pay these costs. This procedure is very costly even if there is insurance coverage. A co-payment may end up being several thousands of dollars.

Mr. Nachman states that the co-payment amount would only increase if Lap-Band is approved for patients who have less obesity. His projections on Lap-Band show and eight percent increase for Allergan's sales to around $258 billion dollars.

The FDA's consideration for Lap-Band is to the up climbing costs in health care which is already threatening to consume one-fifth of the economy in the United States.

Spending for health care associated to obesity is currently estimated at $147 billion dollars, which is doubled from ten years ago.

Even though Lap-Band can possibly control a persons weight it cannot replace lifestyle choices which are healthy.

Director Madelyn Fernstorm, of University of Pittsburgh's weight management center states that Lap-Band is just another tool to make life seemingly easier. It will in no way help aide a persons behavior issues or increase exercise. It is vital that people acknowledge this fact.

In order to alter eating behavior, the pharmaceutical industry has invested billions of dollars in the development in weight loss programs, and most have been proven ineffective.

The FDA has decline two such programs just recently due to safety concerns.

Health experts state that such medications have been for the most part unsuccessful at addressing the main issue for weight loss, the brain's main drive to consume food in amounts to maintain a proper weight.

Dr. Derek Lowe, pharmaceutical researcher states unless medications can address that issue, devices like Lap-Band will have mixed results.

There are persons who have had gastric surgery and just by sipping a milk shake each day put back on the pounds and end up at the same weight they had before the surgery.

Numerous risks associated

There are a numerous assorted risks involved with this surgery. Here are just a few of them:

General Risks: This surgery holds the same amount of risks as having major surgery. There are a number of higher risks involved for those that are greatly obese. Cessation of life is one of the risks. It can be caused during surgery or a result from the surgery. After this surgery another surgery could be needed due to gastric perforation which happens in at least in one percent of all patients. Your own bodies response to an object being inserted into it can pose a risk. Lap-Band surgery has shown a few less risks than other surgeries for obesity.

Complications after surgery can include a three year study involving 288 patients who had the surgery, among them 88% had negative effects. These side effects ranged from mild to severe. Some had included nausea and vomiting, stomach obstruction and band slippage. Twenty- three percent of patients that endured side effects had their bands removed. Additional surgeries to fix the leaking or twisting of the band has occurred in at least nine percent of patients

Specific risks and complications: These include gastritis, heart burn, difficulty in swallowing, regain of weight and death.

Stomach obstructions: These include food, improper placement of the band and the band and even stomach slipping.

Rapid weight loss can produce malnutrition, anemia and other health problems.

To check for the full range of side effects and qualifications for Lap-Band along with conditions you should not have the surgery which includes long term steroid use and not being able to follow dietary rules which are required with this surgery. Lap-Band information is on the Lap-Band System site online.

Dietary Regulations

There are dietary rules which must be strictly maintained. These start at a few days after the surgery and continued for as long as you have the device. In long term you still have watch what you eat. Having solid foods in morning is not suggested since many persons have difficulty consuming them in morning hours so liquid only is suggested. You can consume only three meals each day. These meals must contain the proper amounts of nutrients. Your stomach will allow for a quarter cup of food on each meal. Certain foods are totally not allowed such as carbonated drinks and nuts. Do not eat between meals you are limited to three meals at one quarter cup of food each day.

Go Natural

Research has shown many times over the safest way to lose weight is the old fashioned method of doing it naturally. Dietitians specialize in weight loss and health eating. Registered dietitians will first do an evaluation upon which they will individualize the proper diet to help you lose weight. They also can recommend supplements and vitamins you may need along with the correct type of exercise based on your own individual needs.

You can find a registered dietitian at Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness online.