Hospital performs stomach-reduction surgery

St James Hospital yesterday carried out the first implantation of a gastric band on the island, a surgical intervention that reduces the size of the stomach to help morbidly obese patients lose weight.

The hospital said a constricting band is placed around the top of the stomach to restrict food intake, so that patients feel full after eating a small amount of food. The procedure is performed laparoscopically to reduce post-operative pain.

Following the surgery, patients will still be required to adhere to extensive dietary, exercise and medical guidelines.

Morbid obesity is associated with life threatening disorders including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, arthritis and infertility. For morbidly obese patients, treatments such as dieting and changes in physical activity are not successful in achieving long-term weight reduction. Weight loss surgery is the only treatment proven to maintain weight reduction in the long-term, according to the hospital.