Lap-Band Surgery Is A Promising Treatment For
Obesity
Even with the tremendous emphasis on diet, fitness, and
nutrition in our society, the problem of obesity is increasing
throughout the western world.
According to most experts, the cause of obesity is quite
simple. A person gains weight when he or she consumes more
calories than they burn. This involves both diet and level of
physical activity, because it is primarily physical activity
that burns off calories that are taken in through food.
Recent statistics for various countries around the world
suggest that obesity has reached epidemic levels in the worst
offending countries. By definition, a person is considered
"obese" when his or her health is endangered by the amount of
fat stored in his or her body.
According to a recent study, the percentage of people 15+ years
old who are technically obese has reached 30.6% for the U.S.A.,
24.2% in Mexico, and 22.4% in the U.K. European countries fare
a bit better.
That means, almost 1 in 3 Americans are so severely overweight
that they have health problems because of it.
** What happens when diets and exercise don't work?
In spite of all the hype surrounding diet, exercise, and
nutrition as solutions to the problem of obesity, millions of
people cannot make these solutions work. They simply don't have
the will power, discipline, or motivation to enter into a long
term program that requires a radical change of lifestyle.
The consequences for people who are overweight or obese are
just as serious for those who cannot get their weight down
using these traditional techniques. They are just as
susceptible to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. So it is
certainly in their interest to find a "non-traditional"
solution that will help them lose weight.
** Gastric Surgery works for some people
One interesting new technique for helping people lose weight
involves various "gastric surgery" procedures. The object of
most gastric surgery is to limit the amount of food passing
through the stomach and intestine. It normally does this by
constricting the size of the stomach so it is filled much
faster, food moves through more slowly, and therefore the
ability and desire to eat is significantly reduced.
One of the most successful and least invasive is the technique
called Lap-Band Surgery, which involves using a device called
the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System. The most
important component of the LAP-BAND Systems is an adjustable
band that circles the stomach about two thirds of the way up
from the bottom.
The band is usually a silicone elastomer hollow ring filled
with saline which is placed around the upper part of the
stomach. This creates a new small stomach pouch in the top
portion of the stomach. The larger part of the stomach is below
the band. This way, the primary food storage area in the stomach
is reduced.
Food in the stomach can still pass from the upper part of the
stomach to the lower part for proper digestion, but the
constriction makes this process go much more slowly. So a
person who has had this procedure done can only eat enough to
fill the primary stomach area above the band before feeling
full. The net result is that he or she eats less, and gradually
loses weight.
** Safest and least invasive
The Lap-band procedure is normally done using laparascopic
surgery which is considered minimally invasive. With
laparascopic surgery a few small incisions are made in the
abdominal wall, and then narrow hollow tubes are inserted into
the abdomen. The surgical tools and a small camera are then
inserted through the tubes.
A small tunnel is made behind the top of the stomach. Then the
band is pulled around the stomach to form a ring. The band is
then locked in place with a simple locking device which holds
the band securely in a circle around the stomach.
The band is then connected by a tube to a reservoir placed just
beneath the skin. This allows the doctor to make adjustments to
the band as the effectiveness of the system is monitored.
The size of the band controls the size of the passage (stoma)
between the upper and lower portions of the stomach. The
surgeon in charge of the procedure can later control the amount
of saline in the band by adding solution to the reservoir or
drawing it off through the skin with a fine needle. These
adjustments can be done quickly and without further surgery.
** An effective alternative for combating obesity
In a clinical trial conducted in the U.S., 61% of lap-band
surgery patients lost at least 25% of their excess weight. 52%
lost at least 33% of their excess weight. 22% lost at least 50%
of their excess weight, and 10% lost at least 75% of their
excess weight.
This technique is not for everyone, but it is a very promising
alternative to traditional diet and fitness regimes. The
lap-band procedure requires a significant change in eating
habits, and it takes time -- doctors recommend a program of
gradual weight loss over 18 months to 3 years.
But the payoff is significantly reduced weight and a longer,
healthier life for many thousands of people.