More People Able To Get Special Surgery To Lose Weight

A decision by the U-S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) means more overweight people will now be eligible for weight loss surgery. Wednesday, the FDA approved wider use of the Allergen Lap Band for some obese patients.

According to the Los Angeles Times that means another 26.4-million more overweight Americans now have another option for weight loss. Before the FDA’s decision, only those people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 qualified for the Lap-Band surgery, or 35 if they had a related chronic health condition. But now, those with a BMI of as low as 30 may qualify for the stomach-restricting device. In other terms, a person 5-feet, 6 inches tall would have to have weighed 216 pounds before. That same person now only has to weigh 186 to qualify.

The Lap-Band is an inflatable ring placed around the upper part of the stomach. It restricts how much food a person can eat and makes them feel full when eating less.