By David Liu, PHD

Wednesday Sept 5, 2012 (foodcosnumer.org) -- A report recently published in International Journal of Obesity Supplements says that bariatric surgery is generally highly safe and effective in helping people with morbid obesity to lose weight quickly.

N A Lodhia and J M Morton who are apparently surgeons who have been performing bariatric surgery for many years reviewed 834 cases in which obesity patients at an average of 45 years received bariatric surgery between 2006 and 2010 for the treatment of obesity.

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of over 30 kg/m2.  

According to the report, patients who received bariatric surgery had an average body mass index of 46.2kg/m2, waist circumference of 133.6 cm and four comorbidities prior to the treatment.  Among them,  80.4% were female, 82.5% had private insurance, 61% were White, 17% Hispanic and 9% black.

The three most common bariatric surgeries are Roux-en-y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding procedures.  Eligible for the bariatric surgery are people with a BMI of greater than 40 or 35 kg/m2 with two or more comorbid medical conditions.

The authors say over two thirds of the United States population are either overweight or have obesity and bariatric surgery has been underutilized for the treatment of obesity even though it is gaining popularity.

bariatric surgery does not only help weight loss, but also prevent many medical conditions associated with obesity such as diabetes mellitus.