Recently, the FDA has approved the revamping of the standards deemed necessary in order to qualify for Lap-Band surgery. Lap-Band is a stomach-restricting device, created by Allergan, that works by surgically placing a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. This band is inflatable and restricts how much a person can eat. The purpose of this surgery is to treat obesity in those patients who qualify. Adjustable gastric band surgery was designed for obese people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, assuming they have no other obesity-related health problems. Patients who applied for the surgery with a BMI of at least 35 and who had obesity-related problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, GERD, or diabetes were also considered appropriate for the surgery
With the new policy approved by the FDA, patients with BMI's of 30 and with obesity-related health problems can now qualify for the surgery. It is estimated that this will open up the door for 26 million Americans to be newly eligible for the surgery. In a society where our culture is surrounded by fast-food and stationary entertainment, obesity has become one of the most prominent conditions affecting Americans. Scores of patients being diagnosed with diabetes has increase exponentially within the past decade or so. The Lap-Band surgery option that is now available to 26 million new Americans will hopefully push more obese people to consider this as a life-changing option. Studies have shown that patients who underwent Lap-Band surgery "lost an average of 18 percent of their weight after a year." This 18 percent can be a huge jump for some people who are deemed moderately to morbidly obese.
From 2007-2008, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), performed a study that examined US Adults and obesity trends. The prevalence of obesity was 32.2% among adult men and 35.5% among adult women. This is almost 1/3 of our population that is considered obese. Nevertheless, some people do not see the cost-benefit analysis of obesity in an unbiased way. Those who are obese not due to disease, but lack of physical activity and healthy habits, are making conscious decisions to carry out their lifestyle that way. So what can we do to help change these people's mindset? Make them change their behavior!
However, as we discussed in class before, behavior change is a difficult process. There are so many underlying factors that border behavior change that cause an individual's ability to successfully carry out the change to occur. Some factors include transportation, lack of knowledge, limited resources of healthy food options, prices, employment status, time management, etc. Hopefully, because the Lap-Band surgery is a quick procedure, more people will look to reverse their obesity in this way. It might not be the best way for them to do so, however at least they are thinking about changing their lifestyle, which is a necessary action that comes with the surgery.
Some benefits of Lap-Band:
- Mostly reversible: stomach returns to normal if the band is removed but does have many adhesions making a revision surgery more dangerous
- No cutting or stapling of the stomach
- Short hospital stay
- Quick recovery
- Adjustable without additional surgery
Here is another interesting link regarding obesity trends in the U.S.:
So, what do you think about Lap-Band? Are we targeting weight loss in the wrong way? Should we be promoting healthy habits, exercising, eating & sleeping right, etc., or should we focus our time and money on surgical techniques?
I think that you did a great job of displaying both sides of this controversy- from the fact that we should be emphasizing both that the surgical techniques to address this problem need to be available but also from the standpoint that in some cases surgery may be a preferable option.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am glad to see that this lap-band intervention is becoming renewed and revised to be as effective and safe as possible. I think that it is important to continue to address the leading causes of obesity within our population, but I also think that it is part of being an advocate for healing to realize the nature of our population and address it in a way that will produce real results, not necessarily only what we view as ideal.
I think that it is important to have the restrictions on who is able to apply for such a procedure as this and that it should just not be simply handed out to anyone who is willing. I think however it is important to realize the extent that these people that the surgery is targeting needs this intervention. As we all know on a small scale from our behavior change projects, changing simple behaviors can be more difficult that it appears on the surface.
I also personally think that for individuals who are granted this surgery, for many it may provide for them the hope and motivation that they need to continue with the healthy lifestyle techniques that we were hoping to install in the first place, because seeing physical results of the weight loss can be probably more powerful that many of us realize.
I liked the article as well as the post. I thought that you did a great job in tying this subject to the behavior change project that everyone is undergoing in class - changing behaviors is not easy. However, I would like to look at this article in a different way.
ReplyDeleteIn this article, obesity is the behavior. Thinking creatively, what would Mr. Rozier propose as an appropriate behavior change assignment? Personally, I don't think lap-band surgery would make the list, and not because of its expense. My point is this: I think that something like the lap band surgery is exactly why 1/3 of America is considered overweight or obese - we've gotten lazy. I think that the lap band surgery is just another easy way out for people suffering from obesity, and could be placed in the same product category as Hydroxycut and tummy tucks. In my opinion, very few Americans have the work ethic or the dedication to lose weight the natural, full-proof way: diet and exercise.
However, I do respect your statement that the lap band could help one take the first step in changing their life. The lap band surgery should not be considered as a solution, but only a first step on the road to achieving a healthier America.