[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

• Weight-loss camps. Be wary! Weight-loss camps One of the most disturbing visions I have witnessed is the sight of 20 overweight individuals, with no prior preparation being forced to jog. Puffing and blowing, lumbering miserably, and urged on mercilessly by some slim young thing in gym gear. /caption] You probably have seen it too!......
• How to enjoy your weight-loss! When you are overweight or obese, you are usually lacking in energy. Some mornings you don't even want to get out of bed - even after a full night's sleep. You may be so down that you refuse to try weight-loss. It's too hard for you. Losing weight sometimes isn't......
• Learn to love exercise, and lose weight Weight Loss: Exercise the vital component to good health Another wise man once said: “I have two doctors – my right leg, and my left leg”. Walking is the best exercise for you to begin with, assuming your weight-loss program is beginning from scratch. Begin gently. Do not extend......
• Your weight-loss, your doctor, and what is "healthy eating"? Have you ever been told in no uncertain terms that you MUST eat a healthier DIET? Your "persecutor" - usually a doctor or health provider may "chastise" you because your blood pressure is up, or you are borderline diabetic, and you need to lose weight immediately. Your horrible detractor then......
• Weight-loss shame - increasing gastric banding for teens. Remembering that two thirds of the world's people cannot get enough to eat, I felt a lump in my throat when I came across this story in an Australian newspaper. It's all about the rise in gastric banding for weight-loss in Aussie teens.(Gastric banding is the insertion of a ring......

• A New Alternative to Weight Loss Surgery – But is it Safe? The push for instant weight loss has lead to the popularization of surgeries that can dramatically alter the human body and its digestive functions. Complications are numerous, but the demand for weight loss surgery is high and it doesn’t look as though it will be waning any time soon. For......
• Weight Loss Strategies - Stand Up I was thumbing through the July/August edition of my favorite magazine: Men's Health, and I read an interesting tip that I thought would be perfect for the One Step Closer Tip. On page 183, the editors suggest that people stand up at work instead of sitting. They site a study......
• Weight Loss Confession or Help Me Get Motivated Video Okay, I need to tell you guys a secret I have been holding dear to my stomach. Ready? Yes? Okay, here goes. For the last few weeks I have been out of control with my eating. I've been cheating on my eating. I haven't been pigging out, but I just......
• Weight Loss Secrets pt 4 The right weight loss secrets can go really far in helping you achieve the healthful and natural weight loss that you are looking for. Here are some healthy and natural weight loss secrets. Weight Loss Secret #1 - Reflect on all of the choices that you make. When you look......
• 22 Tips for Weight Loss pt 2 Here is a quick no nonsense guide to what you can to in order to get healthy and lose weight. This is part 2 in a 5 part series. 5 - Learn about substitutions. There are some foods out there that are good for you, but that can be improved......