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Complication rates were greater in people with a history of clot problems, sleep apnea and certain other medical issues, the study found.
The federal government paid for the study. Many of the researchers have ties to companies that make obesity treatments, and several have testified in surgery lawsuits.
The results put the spotlight on cost issues, Dr. Malcolm K. Robinson, a surgeon at Harvard Medical School, wrote in an editorial accompanying the study.
"In the past, now outdated bariatric procedures carried unacceptably high risks. The weight loss associated with the procedures was questionable, and the long-term health benefits were unproven," he wrote.
Now, the evidence shows that "surgery is safe, effective, and affordable," because it can lower doctor visits, medication use and other medical expenses, Robinson wrote. However, "the expense of operating on the millions of potentially eligible obese adults could overwhelm an already financially stressed health care system."
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On the Net:
New England Journal: http://www.nejm.org
National Institutes of Health surgery explanation: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gastric.htm
Bariatric Surgery group: http://www.asmbs.org
Body Mass Index calculator: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bminojs.htm
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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