Background: Obesity and its related illness is a primary health concern today.
Methods: Five hundred morbidly obese patients (mean age 42 years; mean preoperative weight 123 kg) underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery in a private U.S. hospital setting within a comprehensive multidisciplinary bariatric program. Patients were followed up to 36 months. Comorbidity status was assessed for 163 patients who completed > or =18 months' follow-up by comparing medications (type and dosage) prescribed for each comorbid condition before surgery and at follow-up.
Results: At 36 months after surgery, mean body mass index (BMI) had decreased from 45.2 to 34.9 kg/m(2) and mean percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was 47%. Complications were as follows: gastric pouch dilatation (6.8%), slippage (2.8%), and stoma obstruction (0.6%). There was no mortality. Resolution or improvement of comorbidities were as follows: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (87%; usually immediately postsurgery), asthma (81.8%), diabetes (66%), dyslipidemia (65.5%), hypertension (48%), and sleep apnea (33%).
Conclusions: Gastric banding provides good weight loss and significant reduction in comorbidities with few and minor complications.