The British Medical Journal has reported that operations for gastric banding and bypasses have increased in numbers from 238 in the year 2000 to 2,543 operations in 2007. There are a number of different types of operations that people can have to help them lose weight, known collectively as bariatric surgery. Each works by restricting the amount of nutrients that can be digested in the intestine. Gastric banding involves surgically placing a band around the stomach to reduce its size and a gastric bypass sends food to another sack created by surgeons. A third method is not used very often and this involves the removal of part of the stomach. There is another technique called gastric ballooning, where a surgical balloon is inflated in the stomach to reduce its size.
Researchers from Imperial College London discovered that 75% of the operations were carried out using keyhole techniques and that there seemed to be low risk involved with this type of surgery considering the results and the increase in patients seeking this type of operation.
Between the years 2000 and 2008 there have been 6, 953 bariatric operations carried out by the NHS in the UK and the researchers suggest that primary care trusts should be encouraged to pay for it as it is a viable way of treating morbidly obese patients. Imperial College tells us that it also reduces the effects of other illnesses associated with obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Peter Sedman, a bariatric surgeon, claims that whatever money is put into these surgeries by the NHS will help prevent problems that would otherwise be out of control in years to come. Chrissie Palmer from the British Obesity Surgery Patients Association, states that despite advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, these operations are not available in certain areas around the UK. She explains that public opinion remains a little negative regarding surgery for the morbidly obese, despite the preparation and commitment required.
NICE recommends that although these surgeries are beneficial, they should only be a last resort and that individual trusts should commission various services to meet the needs of their community.