title: Management of obesity--the role of surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is rapidly becoming Australia's biggest health care issue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses the role of surgery, in particular laparascopic adjustable gastric banding, in the management of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acceptability and uptake of surgery as a solution to obesity has, in the past, been low. This is largely due to the risks of bypass and stapling procedures, as well as the lack of long term efficacy. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding has, over the past 13 years, proven not only to be safe, but effective both in terms of weight loss and control of the comorbidities associated with obesity. It is currently the most effective solution we have available for patients who suffer from obesity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Obesity Research and Education, Department of Surgery, Monash University Alfred Hospital, Victoria. wendy.brown@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Paul O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Brien
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss