Demand for bariatric surgery may increase

WASHINGTON, Jul 12, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The number of U.S. bariatric surgeries reportedly increased more than fivefold during the last five years, from 13,386 during 1998 to 71,733 in 2002.

Bariatric surgery diminishes the size of a patient's stomach, bypassing part of the intestines to reduce one's food absorption to promote weight loss.

The Tuesday report in the medical policy journal Health Affairs said the potential demand for such surgeries is expected to increase even further. Part of the reason for the recent increase has been a lower postoperative patient death rate, down to 0.32 percent in 2002 from nearly 1 percent in 1998, the report said.

But Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, an anesthesiologist and dietitian in Altoona, Pa., told The Washington Times 20 percent of bariatric surgery patients regain their weight, primarily because they do not change their eating habits.

The report indicated the length of bariatric surgery hospital stays fell 24 percent to 3.8 days during 2002, but the average cost per surgery rose 13 percent from $11,705 during 1998 to $13,215 in 2002. The Times said the report did not include more recent data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports about 64 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese.