The Lap-Band device is a popular surgical product used to shrink the stomach so that obese patients can cut back on their eating. made by manufacturer Allergan, the Lap-Band was approved for sale in 2001 and is currently approved for use in adults with a BMI of at least 40 or at least 35 plus another health problem.

Allergan is looking to gain approval for a wider group of patients. They would like it to be used for patients with a BMI of 35 or higher or at least 30 plus another health problem. A BMI of 30 is considered obese.
Clinical trials showed that the adjustable silicon stomach band improved health-related quality of life in people who aren’t as heavy as current users, according to regulators.

A FDA report showed that no deaths or “unanticipated adverse effects” occurred with the device.

Allergan is looking to sell Lap-Band for treating people who have a body mass index of 35 or even 30 for those with other complications
Allergan conducted a study and found that patients had a “significant decrease in all measures of weight loss,” wrote FDA reviewers in a summary to be reviewed by an outside group of advisers. There were no unexpected complications and about 2% of device-related problems were considered severe.
UPDATE

The advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted 8 to 2 that the benefits of Lap-Band surgery exceeded the risks for patients in the lower range of obesity. It voted 8 to 2 that the device was safe, and 8 to 1, with one abstention, that the device was effective.

The F.D.A. usually agrees with its advisory committees, but it was not clear when a decision would be made

A computerized scale can help overweight kids lose weight by showing them how rapidly they eat, researchers have found.

The scale, known as the Mandometer device, was developed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. It provides real-time feedback to show people their eating rate during mealtimes and compares their actual rate to an ideal rate. The goal is to teach people who are overweight how to eat more slowly and, in doing so, to eat less.

Researchers in the United Kingdom tested the device by randomly assigning 106 obese youths, 9 to 17 years old, to either a group that used the device or a group that did not use it. All participants were encouraged to exercise at least 60 minutes a day and eat a balanced diet.

After 12 months, those who were using the device had a lower body fat score and lower body mass index (a measurement of weight in relation to height) compared with those who were not using the device. Users of the device also consumed smaller portion sizes and ate more slowly than the others. A follow-up six months later showed that the improvements had been maintained, according to a report on the study

Last year Edith Smith weighed in at over 300 lbs. and was on a wait list for gastric lap band surgery.

She has since had the procedure and now has dropped 50 lbs. in 10 months.

Edith says that she has learned a lot this past year and has worked hard to get where she is.

She knows that the surgery is not a quick fix and that diet and exercise have played a major role in her weight loss and healthy attitude.

“I have a lot more mobility than I had,” said Edith, “I’m playing more with my grandkids, and it’s a lot easier for me to play with them.

Edith weighed 300 lbs+before surgery

The surgery uses a band to make the stomach smaller and is less invasive than traditional gastric bypass surgery.

Edith feels the benefits and has reduced her diabetes medication.

She is looking forward to taking more weight off and would like to lose another 50 lbs.

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