Alternatives to the Lapband

According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 133.6 million Americans are considered to be either overweight or obese. For most people, a combination of diet and exercise can help them shed the excess weight over a period of time. However, more drastic measures are often needed for those who are severely obese. One of the most popular forms of weight loss help for people is the Lap Band procedure. While it is a minimally invasive medical procedure, it is by far not the only option that you can consider when choosing a treatment.

Non-Surgical

• While surgery may be the desired treatment for many individuals, there exist alternatives to that in the form of prescriptions. There are two different Food and Drug Administration approved drugs, Xenical and Meridia, but they work in two different ways, describes the Mayo Clinic. Xenical works by blocking your stomach from digesting fat in the food that you consume. The various that fats that are not absorbed are expelled from your body through your bowel movements, states Health Scout. Using Xenical can help you lose between 5 and 10 percent of your excess weight over the course of a year. Among the side effects of using the drug include bowel urgency and frequent bowel movements. Meridia works by altering the various chemicals in the brain, which can make you feel full longer and to reduce your appetite. If the medicine is taken for a year, you can expect to lose 5 to 10 percent of your weight over a year long regimen. Side effects of taking Meridia include insomnia, headaches and high blood pressure.

Surgical

• According to the Mayo Clinic, other than the Lap Band, there remain two main surgical options to consider in order to help you lose your excess weight. The first is the gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass involves having the surgeon create a small pouch towards upper portion of the stomach and then redirect your intestines to the small pouch. This will then eliminate the rest of your stomach from being involved in the digestion process. Consequently, the small pouch will only allow you to hold a small amount of food, which will aid greatly in future weight loss. The second medical procedure is called the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, which is only recommended by doctors for people with a body mass index of 50 or higher, warns Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity. The surgery involves the removal of the majority of your stomach and a portion of your small intestine. The twofold approach helps you achieve a sustained weight loss.