While millions of severely overweight Americans do try diet, fitness and medication programs to treat their obesity, unfortunately these efforts usually offer only short-term results. Medical studies show that if you are obese, you are not likely to achieve significant long-term weight loss through diet and behavior changes, alone.¹

Minimally invasive weight loss surgery, such as the LAP-BAND^® System, may be your best option for losing and long-term control of excess weight. Here is some key information about both surgical and non-surgical treatments.

• Non-Surgical Treatments
• Weight Loss Surgery
• Weight Loss Surgical Options

Non-Surgical Treatments

The most common approach to weight loss is to eat less and more sensibly, and to increase exercise/activity. A weight loss program, monitored by your doctor, should always be your first weight loss option. However, here are some important facts to consider:

• Studies show that obese patients on diets, exercise programs, or weight loss medications lose approximately 10% of their body weight, but tend to regain two-thirds within one year, and most of the weight within five years².
• This is called 'yo-yo dieting', which can make it harder to lose weight in the future.
• Seriously overweight patients should seriously consider weight loss surgery when other methods have failed.
• Significant long-term weight loss through surgery can improve overall wellness and obesity-related health conditions, and greatly enhance everyday life.

Weight Loss Surgery

If non-surgical methods have not helped you lose weight and keep it off, you still have another option:

• Studies show that weight loss surgery (as compared to other options) offers the best results - sustained long-term weight loss in patients who have failed with other treatments¹.
• Among the most crucial success factors, however, are a positive attitude, self-discipline, and the ability to set and work towards goals.
• Surgery can be the best option as long as you are ready to make this commitment to losing your excess weight and keeping it off.

Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery Options

• Restrictive (for example, the LAP-BAND^® System)
  • Reduces the amount of food that your stomach can hold, but doesn't interfere with normal digestion of food and nutrients.
• Malabsorptive (for example, biliopancreatic diversion)
  • Shortens the digestive tract to limit the number of calories and nutrients that can be absorbed by your body.
• Combination (for example, gastric bypass)
  • Restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold and reduces the number of calories absorbed by altering the digestive tract.

The two most commonly performed weight loss surgeries in the United States are the gastric bypass (combination procedure) and adjustable gastric banding with the LAP-BAND^® System (restrictive procedure). Click here for a side-by-side comparison of LAP-BAND^® vs. Gastric Bypass. Click here for a side-by-side comparison of LAP-BAND^® and Realize™ Band.

References

1. American Society for Bariatric Surgery, Rationale for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity. American Society for Bariatric Surgery Web site. April 8, 1998. Available at: http://www.asbs.org/html/patients/rationale.html. Accessed April 2006.
2. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) / American College of Endocrinology (ACE) Statement on the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Obesity (1998 Revision). AACE/ACE Obesity Task Force. Endocr Pract. 1998;4:297-330.