Lap-Band Surgery Approved by FDA for More Patients

Lap-Band surgery can now be accessed by a wider audience, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new guidelines on the procedure this week.

Before the decision, Lap-Band surgery was only available for people who are severely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of between 35 and 40.

Under the new decision, the Lap-Band, a product developed by Allergan Inc., is available to obese adults with a BMI as low as 30 and at least one medical condition related to their weight, the company said in a statement.

Allergan said that around 37 million Americans have a BMI of between 30 and 40, as well as at least one health problem related to obesity.

Dr. Frederick Beddingfield, Allergan’s vice president of Clinical Research and Development, said that the procedure is “not intended for everyone,” saying that it is a potential solution for patients with obesity and conditions stemming from obesity.

Lap-Band surgery would be recommended for people who “have failed more conservative weight-loss therapies, such as diet and exercise, pharmacotherapy, and under consultation with their physician have determined that weight-loss surgery is the next best treatment option,” he stated.

The Lap-Band is an inflatable ring that is surgically implanted around the top of the stomach and restricts the amount that people can eat.