When it comes to losing weight, many of us want a quick fix. With statistics indicating that almost a third of the U.S. population is obese, a growing number of Americans are looking at bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery as a solution. Jarol Boan, assistant professor of medicine and surgery at Duke University Medical Center, says such operations can be a lifesaver for morbidly obese patients unable to lose weight using other approaches, but she cautions against the widespread use of weight-loss surgery. "Not everyone is a candidate for bariatric surgery. Patients need to be evaluated for the medical complications, the risk of surgery and the psychological complexities that go along with this procedure." Boan says "quick-fix" bariatric surgeries can bring about dramatic weight loss, but the procedure won't be effective unless it's part of a long-term weight-management program. "With weight loss, it's a struggle for people to lose weight, but it's even more of a struggle to keep that weight off." As with other strategies, long-term success following bariatric surgery improves with a follow-up program for effective weight management. I'm Cabell Smith for MedMinute.

For more information, contact: Cabell Smith | (919) 681-8067 | cabell.smith@duke.edu