Weight loss surgery has been set aside always for the morbidly obese. Now, with few changes by the FDA, new surgery avenues will open up for people who earlier did not qualify for lap band. Earlier this month, the FDA lowered the weight standards for surgery, making the lap band procedure more accessible to people.

Currently, the guidelines were that a person has to be roughly 50 kgs overweight, but now with the New FDA guidelines we are talking about people who are maybe only 25 kgs overweight who would qualify for surgery.

Precisely, morbidly obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 qualify or 35 if there’s another health indication like diabetes or high blood pressure. The new guidelines lowered the threshold to a BMI of 30 when there are other health problems. But the requirement is still 40 for otherwise healthy people.

Lap band is considered the least invasive form of weight loss surgery. The surgery takes 30 minutes to an hour but the effect can be life-changing. It not only helps in obesity but also reduces the risk of joint problems, hypertension and even cancer.

Still, it should be the option of last resort though to be also seen as a way for thousands of people to avoid expensive health complications like diabetes and hypertension. An estimated 26 million patients who previously did not qualify for surgery may now choose the lap band as a tool for major weight loss.

Reference: http://www.kens5.com/news/Less-obese-people-now-qualify-for-lap-band-surgery-116672169.html