The National Institute of Health in the United States issued guidelines for the treatment of obesity in 2000.

1. First line treatment consisted of dietary, exercise and behavioural modification with small resultant weight loss.    
2. Second line treatment is offered by drugs such as reductil and xenical. These should precede surgery; however surgery offers the only method of sustained weight loss.

Who should receive surgical treatment have been defined by many groups and government agencies worldwide but essentially it is those with a BMI in excess of 40 kg/m² or 35 kg/m²  with associated co-morbidity e.g. diabetes or blood pressure. These patients should also be fit for anaesthesia and surgery and have attempted other methods of weight loss.

We believe that surgery should be offered within the context of a multi-disciplinary team and assessment.

The patient should be willing to undergo long term follow up after surgery.

<< Previous : Why is it difficult to lose weight?