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The Department of SurgeryDivision of General SurgeryMetabolic & Bariatric Surgery Program |
Roughly 300,000 patients die every year as a direct consequence of obesity-related complications and more than $100 million is spent annually on treating the consequences of obesity. At any given time, 50 million Americans are dieting, yet only 5 percent of them are able to maintain their weight loss over a long period of time.
Over the past four decades, bariatric surgery has been proven as an effective and durable tool in fighting this epidemic. In 2004, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a meta-analysis of more than 22,000 weight-loss surgery patients, demonstrating a dramatic resolution of co-morbidities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and sleep apnea in more than 80 percent of the studied subjects. Consequently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services redefined obesity as an illness and has since approved bariatric surgery for its members.
Since its inception in January 2003, UCLA's Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program has provided more than 1,000 dedicated patients with a powerful tool to help them lose weight and sustain their weight loss. Surgery alone, however, can not be expected to bring about the desired results. UCLA's multidisciplinary bariatric team believes that in order to be successful, weight- loss surgery must be accompanied by radical changes in a patient's lifestyle, including eating and exercise habits. These changes must occur prior to surgery and be maintained on a lifelong basis. The UCLA team lays the foundations for successful postoperative outcomes by providing its patients with a thorough preoperative education, preparation and support program. This comprehensive process distinguishes UCLA's program from many other programs in the area.
The UCLA bariatric program has demonstrated excellent results when compared with published benchmarks such as the University Healthsystem Consortium Benchmarking Project. In comparison with the national audit, the UCLA surgeons have had 50 percent fewer reoperations, a 99.7 percent laparoscopic completion rate and a 24- hour shorter hospital stay.
Visit our website below to learn more.
(310) 825-7163 Program Information
Fax Number
(310) 267-4632
Website
http://www.bariatrics.ucla.edu
| Director | Specialty |
|---|---|
Physician |
|
| Dutson, Erik MD | Surgery |
Surgery
Body System Location
Digestive System
Age/Sex Gender
Men's Health
Women's Health
Disorders and Conditions
Metabolic Problems
