Anchor: In June the FDA approved a new device for the surgical treatment of obesity. In today's Health Alert, Dr. Lewis Pincus talks to us about this newest option for the treatment of the epidemic of overweight in our country. Dr. Pincus?

Doctor: Each year in this country about 30,000 extremely obese patients have surgery in an attempt to treat their obesity. There is a growing body of opinion in the medical community that surgery should be considered as an early option, perhaps even an initial treatment, for some forms of obesity, especially the obesity associated with adult-onset diabetes. This is because scientific proof exists that significant amounts of weight loss, if maintained, will greatly improve the life expectancy and complication rates of obese patients with diabetes.

Now the FDA has approved the Lap-Band, from BioEnterics Corporation...a collar-type device that is placed with minimal surgical intervention around the upper part of the stomach. What makes this device unique is the ability to adjust the relative tightness or looseness of the device by injecting saline through a small entry channel, called a port, that is secured just below the skin at the end of the surgery. Approved in June after a three-year study involving several large medical centers, the adjustable lap-band is now available.

Like all forms of surgery, obesity surgery being no exception, there are risks and complications associated with this procedure. In the study trials done in the United States on the lap band, 50 percent of patients complained at one time or another of nausea and vomiting, 24 percent had some slippage of the correct position of the band, and 25 percent actually had it removed because of side effects.

Regarding weight loss using the adjustable gastric band technique, it is interesting to note that on average patients lost 36 percent of their excess weight during the three years of the study. In Europe, where diets have much less fat and much less sugar than in the United States, the post-operative average weight loss using the adjustable gastric band is around 50 percent. With traditional gastric bypass or gastric stapling procedures, the weight loss is about 60 %.

Anchor: Dr. Pincus, can you tell us some more about the availability of this surgery or other surgical techniques here in the Metroplex, and will insurance pay for these procedures?

Doctor: To my knowledge, the principal surgical options for obesity available in the Metroplex involve the traditional gastric bypass surgery, performed by numerous qualified surgeons in this area. The traditional gastric bypass involves a full incision, is an open procedure, and in the hands of someone who does them all of the time is a highly effective surgery. In addition some surgeons are performing a laparoscopic non-adjustable gastric banding procedure. The nonadjustable gastric band has been available for some time here in the States. If the patient is at least 100 pounds overweight, expecially if there is also diabetes, heart or lung problems, or severe arthritis, insurance should pay for the surgery. However, I would want to remind anyone considering surgery for the treatment of obesity, there is no doubt that people will regain the weight unless they are absolutely committed to a lifetime of lifestyle change that includes nutritional excellence and a commitment to regular exercise.