Who is a good candidate for the gastric band?

Michael W. Johnell, MD, FACS is a board certified general and bariatric surgeon at Banner Health Center specializing in Bariatric Surgery.

Question: I am severely overweight and have high blood pressure and cholesterol. Can adjustable gastric banding surgery help me become healthier?

Answer: Two thirds of Americans are now either overweight or obese and adult obesity continues to rise. Although, Coloradans continue to have the lowest obesity rate at 19.1 percent many people struggle with their weight. Additionally, being overweight comes with potentially life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.

For patients who have tried losing weight by dieting or medication and have failed, bariatric surgery is a very good choice for them. Most patients have tried many times to lose weight without success. They want to lose weight to become healthier and spend more time doing things they have not been able to do with their families.

Results have shown that as patients experience significant weight loss many of their associated medical conditions, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, greatly improve or are completely resolved.

The adjustable gastric banding procedure is done by placing a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a pouch. This small pouch allows a much smaller portion of food to be eaten, thereby reducing the caloric intake without being hungry. The benefits of the adjustable gastric banding procedure include:

• Fully adjustable for each patient
• Does not alter the anatomy
• The least invasive weight loss surgery with the lowest complication rate
• Low risk for malnutrition
• The most cost-effective bariatric procedure