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Difficulties in provision of bariatric surgical services to the morbidly obese
Author(s) -
Talbot Michael L,
Jorgensen John O,
Loi Ken W
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06733.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obesity , body mass index , public health , morbidly obese , morbid obesity , intervention (counseling) , diabetes mellitus , intensive care medicine , general surgery , weight loss , psychiatry , nursing , endocrinology
Morbid obesity (defined as having a body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m 2 , or BMI > 35 kg/m 2 with obesity‐related comorbidities) is a medical disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Management guidelines published by the National Health and Medical Research Council and by similar US and UK bodies have recommended surgery as the most effective treatment available for selected patients with morbid obesity. A recent meta‐analysis of obesity surgery has documented its safety and effectiveness in resolving some of the major medical comorbidities that occur in obese patients. To date, no intervention other than surgery has proven either effective or cost‐effective in treating severe obesity and its associated medical conditions. Targeting patients with metabolic complications of obesity (eg, type 2 diabetes) could lead to substantial cost savings for the public health system. Currently, Medicare pays for privately insured patients to undergo obesity surgery, while uninsured patients are denied access to surgery in public hospitals. This raises significant equity issues that should be addressed.