NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER NOW OFFERS LAP-BAND® SURGERY TO PATIENTS WITH A BMI OF 30 AND ABOVE BATTLING OBESITY-RELATED CO-MORBID CONDITIONS

FDA Approval of the LAP-BAND® System’s Expanded Use for Weight Reduction Gives People Struggling to Lose Approximately 60lbs or More Over Their Ideal Body Weight Another Option to Combat Serious Health Issues

UNION, NJ – MARCH 1, 2011 – The Federal Drug Administration [FDA] approved the expanded use of Allergen’s LAP-BAND® system for weight reduction in patients with a body mass index [BMI] of 30-40 with a least one obesity-related co-morbid condition such as type II diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, etc.   BMI, calculated from a person’s height and weight, is the standard medical indicator of obesity.  Standard medical care dictates that a person with a BMI greater than 40 falls into the obese range, and is eligible for bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass, LAP-BAND®, REALIZE® Band and sleeve gastrectomy procedures. [Click here to calculate your BMI http://www.njbariatriccenter.com/treatment-options/bmi-calculator.html]

“The FDA approval of the LAP-BAND® system at a lower BMI gives people with serious health-related conditions due to obesity another option to combat them,” says Dr. Ajay Goyal, founder of the New Jersey Bariatric Center.  “While this approval by the FDA lowers the threshold to have LAP-BAND® surgery, the fact still remains that the decision to have this weight loss procedure is a serious one and should be made in consultation with a board-certified, fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon.  When considering surgery it’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is a tool; it only works in conjunction with lifestyle modifications including exercise and healthy eating.”

“Unfortunately, obesity, and the health-related conditions associated with it, is a growing health problem in our country today,” says Dr. Glenn Forrester, surgeon at the New Jersey Bariatric Center.  “According to the Center for Disease Control’s [CDC] Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system the obesity rate in New Jersey continues to climb, from less than 10% of the population in the early nineties to today having more than 23% of the New Jersey population falling into the obese category.  This trend is not slowing down, which means it’s important for people battling this disease, and the health-related conditions that accompanies it, to have as many safe and effective options as possible.  The expanded use approval by the FDA shows that LAP-BAND® surgery is one of them, and can have a significant effect, combined with a balanced diet and exercise, on combating obesity.”

New Jersey Bariatric Center

The New Jersey Bariatric Center, led by Dr. Ajay Goyal, has offices in Union and Hoboken, New Jersey. Dr. Goyal’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortality to date and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. These surgical results stand out as some of the best in New Jersey. If you or someone you love is considering bariatric surgery – Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® Band procedures - please join us for one of our free educational seminars. To register, visit us at www.njbariatriccenter.com .

New Jersey Bariatric Center

700 Rahway Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
Phone: (908) 481-1270 (Business hours)
Fax: (908) 688-8861
www.njbariatriccenter.com