Bariatric surgery is now accepted as the best and most effective treatment for morbid obesity. About 65 percent of all bariatric surgery patients are able to lose their excess weight and keep it off for more than five years.

When you consider that only approximately two percent of nonsurgical treatment patients are able to lose and keep off their weight for more than a year, you can appreciate these surgical results.

Health problems resolved or improved after surgery:

• 86 percent diabetes
• 70 percent high cholesterol
• 78 percent high blood pressure
• 84 percent sleep apnea

Expected weight loss (weight loss occurs for 18-24 months after surgery — mostly in first year):

• Lap-band surgery — 40-48 percent excess weight loss (national avg. = 47 percent)
• Gastric bypass surgery — 65-80 percent excess weight loss (national avg. = 62 percent)
• Duodenal switch — excess weight loss (national avg. = 70 percent)