How effective is obesity surgery?

Everybody is different, so it is difficult to predict exactly how much weight you would lose following weight loss surgery. The amount of weight loss is also dependant on your weight before surgery, your food choices and the amount of exercise that you do following obesity surgery. But you are likely to lose a lot of weight and keep it off.

Gastric banding

On average people who undergo a gastric lap banding operation lose around half of their excess weight within two years of surgery*. The average actual weight loss is around half a stone a month, though this does vary by patient. Most patients can expect to lose a significant amount of weight within 9 to 12 months.

Gastric bypass

Those who have a gastric bypass lose around 70 percent of their excess weight within a year**. The average actual weight loss is around one stone a month, though this does vary by patient.

The statistics above are for guidance only. You will need to discuss your own potential weight loss with your bariatric consultant, who will be able to give you information specifically relevant to you.

* BMJ Obesity surgery, Gastric banding, Jan 2006
** Colquitt J, Clegg A, Sidhu M, et al. Surgery for morbid obesity. In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1. Oxford, England: Update Software: 2004.

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