University of California, San Diego Medical Center – Center for the Treatment of Obesity

Gastric Band Surgery – For more information, call 1-800-926-UCSD

About Dr. Horgan

Weight Loss Options

Comparing Weight Loss Surgery to Non-Surgical Weight Loss Solutions

Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options

The most common weight loss methods are to eat less and exercise more. Sometimes, these efforts are successful in the short term. However, for people who are morbidly obese, the results rarely last.

Recent research reveals that conventional weight loss methods generally fail to produce permanent weight loss. Several studies have shown that patients on diets, exercise programs, or medication are able to lose approximately 10% of their body weight but tend to regain two-thirds of it within one year, and almost all of it within five years. Another study found that less than 5% of patients in weight loss programs were able to maintain their reduced weight after five years.

Weight Loss Surgery

Over the years, weight loss surgery has proven to be a successful method for the treatment of morbid obesity. Surgical weight loss options have continued to evolve and UCSD Medical Center is pleased to be able to offer patients a variety weight loss surgery procedures. In addition to the Lap-Band, UCSD's Center for Treatment of Obesity offers gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy (also known as gastric sleeve), and a bypass revision procedure called ROSE. Follow the links below to learn about these procedures.