About the FDA Announcement

Media Release 18 February 2011

The FDA has approved laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap Band/ Gastric Band) surgery for people with a BMI greater than 30 and at least one serious, obesity-related condition, and who are unable to lose weight through conventional weight loss methods.

Landmark Australian research contributed to the FDA’s approval of the gastric band for use in adults within the lower limits of obesity. A world-first study, conducted at the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) at Monash University, compared the effectiveness of gastric banding to non-surgical treatment (diet, exercise and medication) in obese adults with a BMI between 30 and 35. The research found that gastric banding resulted in a loss of 87% in excess body weight, compared to 21% with non-surgical treatment, a greater reduction in obesity-related health conditions and greater improvements in quality of life across all measures following gastric band surgery.⁹

A second Australian study also conducted at CORE, that formed part of the FDA submission, revealed that gastric banding surgery is five times more likely to reverse type 2 diabetes than simple lifestyle changes.¹⁰ The study revealed 20% of average body weight loss with lap band surgery compared to only 1.4% average body weight loss with conventional diabetes care; an 80% improvement to normal limit blood sugar (glucose) levels with gastric banding, compared to 20% with conventional diabetes care; a greater reduction in the use of diabetes medication with gastric banding and a greater reduction in associated health conditions, including use of blood pressure and lipid lowering medications.¹⁰