s patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical conditioThere are a large number of choices available today when it comes to weight loss surgery, from the classical Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to laparoscopic or robotic adjustable gastric banding, but which is the best choice for patients with a particularly high BMI?

First we need to define what we mean by a particularly high BMI. It is generally accepted that obesity starts at a BMI of 30 and becomes morbid obesity at 40. This is the point at which most doctors will consider a surgical solution to the problem. With a BMI in the 40s patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical conditio

to laparoscopic or robotic adjustable gastric banding, but which is the best choice for patients with a particularly high BMI?

First we need to define what we mean by a particularly high BMI. It is generally accepted that obesity starts at a BMI of 30 and becomes morbid obesity at 40. This is the point at which most doctors will consider a surgical solution to the problem. With a BMI in the 40s patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical conditio

irst we need to define what we mean by a particularly high BMI. It is generally accepted that obesity starts at a BMI of 30 and becomes morbid obesity at 40. This is the point at which most doctors will consider a surgical solution to the problem. With a BMI in the 40s patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical conditios morbid obesity at 40. This is the point at which most doctors will consider a surgical solution to the problem. With a BMI in the 40s patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical conditios patients are generally suitable for all forms of weight loss surgery (unless excluded by such things as co-existing medical condition) however, as BMI passes 50, the risks of gastric bypass surgery rise steeply and choices become limited. Against this background we would define a particularly high BMI as being 50 or above.

Despite the increased risks, some patients are nonetheless considered suitable and do opt for gastric bypass surgery while others take the safer route of gastric banding, but which is better?

In a recent study involving 106 patients (all of whom had a BMI in excess of 50) 60 patients underwent gastric banding while the remaining