| Publication: | The Australian |
|---|---|
| Date: | 29 March 2010 |
| Section: | National |
Article excerpt:
OBESITY surgery is soaring in popularity, but figures show for the first time that the benefits of the procedure for the average patient fall far short of the costs, making simpler alternative treatments better value for money.
... But figures to be released today show that while it costs $10,935 to give one patient gastric banding surgery -- by far the most common anti-obesity operation -- the procedure saves only $7567 over the patient's remaining lifetime on average, costing the system $3366 overall.
The analysis, commissioned by Medibank Private, found better value in drug treatments for obesity, which cost $1566 for a benefit of $2174 per patient over their remaining life.
Best of all were lifestyle programs teaching patients how to eat and exercise better.
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