Lap-banding is an Effective Procedure For Adolescents

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The obesity epidemic does not just apply to adults – children and adolescents also have obesity rates at an all-time high. For adolescents, the rate is 30.4 percent overweight and 15 percent obese. Children who grow up overweight are much more likely to become overweight or obese as adults – so, the search for non-invasive solutions is constant. Now a procedure called lap-banding may be an effective way to control obesity. A new study at NYU Medical Center revealed that, for patients under the age of 17, lap-banding was very effective, resulting in about a 50 percent loss of excess weight over the time frame of a year.

The study was performed on 53 morbidly obese adolescents (generally, a BMI of 40 or more is necessary for someone to be morbidly obese). The patients had at least a five year history of being overweight and experienced adverse health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

The lap band procedure consists of an inflatable silicone ring placed around the upper portion of the stomach, making the stomach smaller and reducing the amount of food that can be consumed. It’s a reversible and adjustable procedure. Few of the adolescents in the study experienced any problems.

This appears to be a safer solution than gastric bypass surgery, which has many risks, such as intestinal blockage and nutritional deficiency. For those searching for a less “harsh” procedure, it seems to be a winner, being minimally invasive and completely reversible. According to the findings, lap-banding is an effective and non-harmful surgery.