Weight loss operations jump 12 percent in the last year

The NHS reports that the number of people undergoing weight loss operations has increased by 12 percent within the last year. The figures show that from 2010 to 2011 there were just over 8,000 operations compared with around 7,200 in the previous year.
The operations include gastric bypasses, gastric band fitting, gastric band re-fitting and sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgery is available on the NHS to people with a high BMI who have not had success through diet and lifestyle interventions.
Weight loss surgery can help to prevent further complications developing as a result of obesity, including decreasing the risk of heart attacks and improving joint health. The operations can also improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, enabling a significant percentage of patients to switch away from more aggressive medications such as insulin.
Whilst bariatric surgery can have beneficial results, it also carries risks of infection, internal bleeding and additional complications.
The report also showed that the number of hospital admissions as a result of obesity has risen ten-fold over the past decade. The North East of England is recorded as having the greatest number of obesity related admissions per head of population.