[LATEST NEWS JUST IN: In November 30 aborigines are being subject to a weight-loss  lap banding experiment. Are they being properly informed about the dangers?
Check out this disturbing report from the ABC! ]

Now read on:

About 14,000 Australians had a gastric banding operation last year. As the number of procedure increase every year many health professionals and patients worry that the procedure is more dangerous than the diabetes and obesity it’s supposed to cure. Along with this is alarm caused by the payments made to surgeons who have been promoting gastric banding, that begs the question of conflict of interest according to a report on ABC TV.

Gastric banding means that a silicone band is fastened around your upper stomach, which makes a small pouch and a narrow outlet, reducing the amount of food you can consume.
The cost is around $6000 to $14,000 with private surgery, or 3 years on public waiting list. Recipients usually suffer from other complaints such as sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, and about one in every 1800 lap-band patients die from complications.
About 75% of people experience other complications such as gastric reflux, vomiting, cancer of the oesophagus, digestive disease and respiratory disease, not to mention psychological health problems.

The dominating company for gastric banding products Allergan, also makes Botox and breast implants.
A recent report by “Medicines Australia” shows Allergan spent $1.4 million in the first six months of 2009 entertaining and educating doctors and nurses about its prescription medicines. This amount does not include promotion of surgical devices.
One other worrying aspect is that it is common on gastric banding websites to encourage people to cash in their superannuation or take out loans to pay for their surgery (see full report).

For me perhaps the greatest concern of this weight-loss procedure is that many teen-agers are being persuaded to succumb.

There are other far safer, far less expensive, weight-loss options for you to consider. As yet the long term dangers are yet to be revealed.

Safe and sure wins the prize!

Weight Wise Man

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