According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-10, over one third of the American population are obese and 17 percent of young population was obese. Gastric banding has become a popular solution for obesity, according to Medical Xpress.
The study analyzed data of 3,227 patients who had undergone gastric banding from 1994 to 2011. Professor Paul O'Brien and his colleagues from the Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) at Monash University led the study. According to the results, 714 patients who had gastric banding done almost 10 years ago and 54 patients who underwent the surgery at least 15 years ago, managed to continue a weight loss of 57 pounds or at least half of the extra weight, the report said.
"These results show that when you have a significant problem with obesity, a long-term solution is available," professor O'Brien said. "This surgery is safe and effective, and it has lasting benefits. Substantial weight loss can change the lives of people who are obese - they can be healthier and live longer."
As obesity links to serious heath disorders such as type-2 diabetes, hypertensions and adverse lipid concentration, gastric banding effectively controlled the levels of blood sugar without additional medication, professor O'Brien said.
The procedure of gastric banding was followed with all the patients maintaing healty eating habits and exercise post the surgeries. As a result one out of 20 patients had their band removed during the study. These surgeries were proven cent percent safe with zero deaths during or after the surgeries. The surgeries were performed by professor O'Brien, an international pioneer of the technique, and Associate Professor Wendy Brown, President of the Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and New Zealand (OSSANZ) with intense care.
"In treating a chronic disease such as obesity over a lifetime, it is likely that something will need to be corrected at some time in some patients," professor O'Brien said. "The study shows a marked reduction of revisional procedures with the introduction of the new version of the Lap-Band 6 years ago. Importantly, those who had revisional surgery lost as much weight in the long term as those who did not need it."
Professor O'Brien suggested the weight loss surgery is one of the most effective and involves low costs which will improve the health conditions and have a longer life.
The study is published in the Annals of Surgery.
