FDA Gives Approval for Lap-Band Use With Less Obese Patients

This means those who are borderline no longer have to put on weight to have the surgery, hey that does happen sometimes. In Europe the Lap Band is already considered an intervention device for “Diabesity” and we all know that diabetes 2 and weight carry a strong connection.  BD

Lap-Band weight-loss surgery can be a good idea for millions more obese patients than previously were eligible for the stomach-constricting device, the Food and Drug Administration says.

The Lap-Band, made by Irvine-based Allergan Inc., previously was FDA-approved only for people with a body-mass index, or BMI, of 40 or higher, or 35 if they have associated problems like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Allergan announced Wednesday that the FDA voted to expand the Lap-Band cut-off to patients with a BMI of 30 with an obesity-related health problem, as an FDA advisory panel recommended in December. People with a BMI of 25-29.9 are considered overweight but not obes