The Change Mariner

Hospitals Pressured by Soaring Demand for Obesity Surgery

New York Times:

Doctors and hospitals across the country are scrambling to satisfy the booming demand for surgery that shrinks the stomachs of severely obese people.

Dozens of hospitals are adding special operating suites for the procedure, called bariatric surgery, which attracted wide notice after public figures like Al Roker of "Today" on NBC, Sharon Osbourne of "The Osbournes" on MTV and Representative Jerrold Nadler, a Manhattan Democrat, had it done. ...

Bariatric procedures — meant for obese people who are at extremely high risk of severe health problems, as defined by a National Institutes of Health consensus — surged more than 40 percent last year, to 80,000. This year, the number is expected to climb to 120,000, according to Frost & Sullivan, a consulting firm. Spending on bariatrics is approaching $3 billion a year, at an average cost of $25,000 for each procedure.

Amazon Price:

Amazon Price: