Gastric banding for morbid obesity : five years follow-up

This paper reports on a five year follow-up of 174 morbidly obese patients (132 women) with gastric banding performed between 1981 and 1985. Mean pre-operative weight was 122.6±1.4 kB (s.e.m.) (body mass index (BMI)=41.8±0.4 kg/m 2 ) and mean overweight was 73.2±1.6%. After rapid weight loss during the first six months weight levelled off reaching a nadir at 12-18 months. At 12 months mean weight loss was 36.5±1.2 kg (BMI=29.1±0.4 kg/m 2