Medicare has announced that it will cover three types of weight loss surgery: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric banding, and biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch.

Under the new rules, Medicare will pay for the surgery for obese patients who are suffering from other health problems related to their weight, as long as they undergo the procedure at centers that have been certified as well qualified by the American College of Surgeons or the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. (Washington Post)

January 02, 2006

As more people abandon New Year's resolutions to lose weight and turn to obesity surgery, doctors are debating which type is safest and best. And researchers are uncovering some surprising trends. (MSNBC)

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Weight Loss Surgery

October 19, 2005

Given the rising rates of obesity in the United States, it's not surprising that more people are turning to bariatric surgery to treat the problem.

But several new studies in the Oct. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association point out some of the real risks associated with those surgeries. (forbes.com)

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Weight Loss Surgery

March 09, 2005

"Maradona, who became very fat in recent years, successfully underwent a gastric bypass operation at a clinic in the Colombian seaside resort of Cartagena on Saturday, and is expected to leave hospital in the coming days. Doctors say he is in high spirits."

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Weight Loss Surgery

August 08, 2004

People who undergo gastric bypass surgery often experience a loss of appetite due to a hormone.

A new report says the risks of weight loss surgery can be reduced if only doctors who have been through a rigorous certification process perform the operations in facilities that do at least 100 of the procedures each year.

A new study shows low-carb dieters may be reducing their risk of breast cancer while they're shedding pounds.

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Weight Loss Surgery