Annotated Bibliography of Online Obesity Resources

American Society for Bariatric Surgery
Rationale for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity
http://www.asbs.org/html/rationale/rationale.html

A detailed explanation of the reasons for weight loss surgery, from a national association of surgeons and health care professionals. Includes information on treatment goals, patient selection, and risks.

American College of Surgeons Testimony
Statement of the American College of Surgeons to the Medicare Coverage Advisory November 4, 2004
http://www.facs.org/ahp/testimony/bariatric.html

Formal statement of support for Medicare coverage of bariatric surgery, from one of America's foremost surgeons groups.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services News Release
HHS Announces Revised Medicare Obesity Coverage Policy: Policy Opens Door to Coverage Based on Evidence Thursday, July 15, 2004
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040715.html

Announcement of new federal health care coverage for obesity.

Medicare to consider OK'ing weight-loss surgery
Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Posted 11/3/2004 6:36 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-11-03-medicare-weight-surgery_x.htm

News article about a pending decision by the Medicare coverage advisory committee to provide insurance coverage for bariatric surgery.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Overweight and Obesity : Economic Consequences
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/economic_consequences.htm

Information on the economic consequences of obesity in the U.S.

American Obesity Association
Global Trends
http://www.obesity.org/education/global.shtml

Statistics and information on obesity in America and around the world, including trends and state-by-state surveys.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Information
New Device Approval
LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB®) System - P000008
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mda/docs/p000008.html

Information on the lap-band system of surgery. This source contains a diagram of the device used, a description of the procedure, typical results, risks, and contraindications.

National Institutes of Health: U.S. National Library of Medicine
Medline Plus
Medical Encyclopedia: Adjustable Gastric Banding
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19497.htm

A visual explanation of the procedure for adjustable gastric banding.