• Allergan (Irvine, California) reported a new study published in peer-reviewed journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases suggests that the cost of a gastric banding weight loss procedure is offset by reduction in obesity-related medical costs within 2 1/4 years for surgery-eligible patients with diabetes and within four years for all surgery-eligible patients. The study, which evaluated healthcare claim data from a group of patients who had gone under gastric banding and a group of patients who were eligible but did not have the surgery, found that post surgery medical costs slightly decrease for the first group, while the medical costs for the second group of patients continued to rise. The author of the study also stated that the upfront costs associated with the gastric banding procedure are recovered in a short period of time, especially for patients with diabetes. Allergan says the Lap Band adjustable gastric banding system has been proven to help patients reach their long-term weight loss goals. For patients who are 30 pounds or more overweight, have a BMI of more than 30, and have at least one obesity-related comorbid health condition, Lap-Band can help to lose weight and avoid weight related health risks. Lap-Band was approved by the FDA in 2001 for adults with a BMI of more than 40, or more than 35 with at least one severe comorbid condition and for adults who are at least 100 pounds over their ideal weight.