Gastric Banding for BMI of 30+

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‘Weighting game’ over for obese adults with FDA expansion of gastric band use

Media Release 18 February 2011

The United States (US) Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is joining Australia in the battle of the bulge by approving the gastric band for use in obese adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI)* as low as 30 and one obesity-related condition.

Australia was the first in the Asia-Pacific region to recently approve the gastric band for use in people with a BMI over 35 or a BMI greater than 30 with at least one serious, obesity-related condition. For the first time, adults across the whole obesity spectrum who have failed conventional weight loss measures (diet, exercise and medication) can access this clinically effective, long-term, weight loss option.

According to Professor Paul O’Brien, Head of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) at Monash University, Melbourne, broader use of the gastric band among obese adults will have a significant and positive effect on health in Australia and the US.

“We know that serious, obesity-related health complications have already begun by the time a BMI of 30 is reached, which is the lower limit of obesity.1

“The gastric band was previously available to those with a BMI of at least 35 and one serious, obesity-related condition. Until now, obese people with a BMI under 35 who carry significant health risks have had limited options to improve their health when other conventional weight loss measures, such as diet and exercise, have failed,” said Prof O’Brien.

“If left untreated, research shows that these people will likely remain obese,2 placing themselves in danger of developing serious health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

“While these simpler, non-surgical options should certainly form part of all initial weight loss attempts, we know with confidence from our Australian clinical data, that gastric banding is a viable, effective option for people unable to maintain weight loss with conventional methods,” Prof O’Brien said.

Data reveal that approximately one-in-four3 – or 3.24 million4 – Australian adults are obese. If this trend continues, it is estimated that 7.2 million Australians will be obese by 2025,4 underscoring obesity as a growing health epidemic in Australia and the need for additional, effective treatment.5,6 Given its known correlation to life-threatening conditions (such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and some cancers),5 obesity is a disease that requires medical treatment.

In Australia, the first gastric banding procedure was performed in 1994, and last year more than 11,000 procedures were conducted.7 In total, more than 600,000 procedures have been performed internationally.8

“In one of our landmark studies that contributed to the FDA’s decision to expand the indication for the gastric band, those who had mild-to-moderate obesity (BMI 30-35) showed very clear benefits with the gastric band compared to a matched group who received the best conventional weight loss treatment,” said Prof O’Brien.

At two years after entry into the study, the gastric banding patients had lost an average of 87 per cent of their excess weight compared to those who followed a conventional program and lost just 21 per cent of their excess weight through diets, improved eating habits, and increased exercise and lifestyle changes.9

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References 

  1. Guh DP. The incidence of co-morbidities related to obesity and overweight: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:88
  2. Kuczmarski MD, Prevelance of Overweight and Weight Gain in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr 1992; 55:495S-502S.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2008, National Health Survey 2007-08, Cat 4364.0.
  4. Access Economics 2008. The growing cost of obesity in 2008: Three years on.
  5. World Health Organisation (WHO) 2011. Obesity and Overweight. <www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/index.html>.
  6. Bray G. Medical consequences of obesity. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2004: 89(6); 2583-2589.)
  7. Medicare 2010 data.
  8. Allergan data on file, 2011.
  9. O’Brien PE et al. Treatment of mild to moderate obesity with Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or an Intensive Medical Program: a randomised trial. Annals of Internal   

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